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

Illinois finally gave equality for truckers the green light with a new law raising the speed limit for trucks to 65 mph. After years of having to adhere to split speeds, imposing one speed limit for cars and trucks will no doubt improve safety on the roadways, according to the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which backed the Continue Reading

New Jersey recently proposed a new law affecting truckers that was met with a frosty reception from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). If passed, the Garden State’s law fining drivers who do not clear snow or ice from their vehicles before taking the road would be the first in North America. OOIDA bristled at the Continue Reading

New regulations in the state of New York banning trucks from using seven highways as shortcuts on their routes will drive up transportation costs and result in job losses, according to the state trucking association. Still, the governor’s office is moving ahead with the ban, citing safety as the primary reason. Visit the New York State Department of Transportation website for Continue Reading