The Department of Transportation recieved requests for more than 40 times the amount of the $1.5 billion it doled out to TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants, but the government agency said those projects it OK’d would create jobs and spur lasting economic growth, reduce gridlock for Continue Reading

For the 18th straight year, Memphis International Airport held its position as the world’s busiest for cargo. Before the recession dampened global demand, some had predicted that Hong Kong could overtake the Tennessee airport. FedEx Corp.’s home airport actually widened the gap with Hong Kong, due to a drop in shipments from Continue Reading

At a recent U.S. Department of Transportation forum in Minneapolis, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) urged government officials to make highway infrastructure a top priority to ensure the swift and safe movement of freight throughout the country. ATA Senior Vice President Tim Lynch said the next congressional highway authorization should address Continue Reading

Citing public safety for both tourists and truckers alike, Virginia plan to reopen 19 safety rest areas and welcome centers, reversing a 2009 decision to cut the number by nearly half, from 42 to 23. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) applauded the move, which will help prevent driver fatigue and provide safe, secure parking spaces for truck drivers to comply Continue Reading

Though the current hours-of-service (HOS) rules are in part being praised for the declining truck-involved fatality rate, some drivers and lobbying groups contend more flexibility is needed in the sleeper berth provision. Some drivers suggest splitting the 10-hour stoppage rule as a way of flexing their rest schedules. The FMCSA has been Continue Reading

Truck-involved fatalities and truck-involved crashes both dropped in 2008, according to data released by the American Trucking Associations (ATA). Fatalities dropped to a record-low 12.3 percent, the lowest figure since 1975, when records started being kept. The figures were calculated based on data from both the Federal Highway Administration and Continue Reading

Nearly 200 bills are pending in state and local legislatures to ban emailing or texting while driving. Currently 19 states have already cracked down on the distracting habit, while 23 other states are debating the issue, which is blamed for 16 percent of all highway fatalities. It is likely that all states will enforce the ban, since federal legislation has been Continue Reading

An executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving on the clock or using wireless devices in government vehicles officially took effect the beginning of the year. This law affects all federal employees during work hours while operating their private vehicles, or at all times if using Continue Reading

The results of a transportation study recently released by IBM indicate that traffic congestion is a concern across the globe. After studying the infrastructure in 50 cities, the study concludes that wisely using existing resources both to move freight and people will be key in alleviating traffic and its harmful effects on the environment. One of the smart solutions offered up by the report was Continue Reading

Citing benefits to both the economy and the environment, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that major components of a $600-million ExpressRail project had been finished. This completion will make way for 1.3 million cargo containers to be shipped by rail, clearing state and local roads of about 3 million trucks. The projects were Continue Reading