According to a new report, railroads are positioned to rebound faster than any other mode of shipping, both because of the wide variety of industries it supports and market confidence signaled by recent investments. The less-than-truckload (LTL) market is struggling due to low pricing, but analysts speculate that is a move to weed out the carriers who are Continue Reading

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

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

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

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

Four of the Federal Reserve’s 12 districts, including Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas an Richmond, reported improved transportation activity for the period between mid-November and early January. Though its latest “beige book” reports that though the transportation sector is improving, economic activity remained low. Compiled eight times a year, beige book reports are based Continue Reading

By converting over 14 billion highway miles to rail, which would reduce CO2 emissions by almost 20 million tons and fuel consumption by nearly 2 billion gallons, the National Gateway, a multi-state public-private partnership will connect Mid-Atlantic ports to the Midwest. The group is touting its environmental benefits in Continue Reading

The Federal Reserve’s latest “Beige Book” indicates mixed growth, particularly in the trucking industry, for the period ending mid-October. The report, which is published eight times a year, is a survey of the economic conditions in each of the 12 Federal Reserve Banking Districts. While increased shipments and freight volume were 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

When the trucking industry bounces back from the recession, it will likely have to find new ways to stay profitable. Key to an operation’s survival may be its ability to become more cost-effective and more competitive, vying for the freight that is available, and able to function with a leaner staff. As in recent years, fuel prices will be Continue Reading