North Dakota senator introduces bill to remove regulations affecting CDLs

North Dakota senator introduces bill to remove regulations affecting CDLs

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) recently introduced legislation that would remove regulations for the agriculture, school districts, and trucking companies. Cramer says the existing Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) law that requires drivers seeking a CDL to complete the ELDT is “burdensome,” especially when the industry faces a driver shortage. Cramer says ELDT training classes range…

Tech startup Apex.AI getting noticed by trucking industry giants

Tech startup Apex.AI getting noticed by trucking industry giants

PALO ALTO, CA – Tech startup Apex.AI, which develops software for vehicles and smart machines, has captured the attention of some of the automotive world’s giants. Earlier this month, Apex.AI announced that Daimler Truck, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, made a strategic minority investment in the company. Daimler Truck joins an impressive…

Rising diesel prices putting the pinch on small, independent truckers

Rising diesel prices putting the pinch on small, independent truckers

Diesel gas prices have soared to new heights across the country, putting the squeeze on small trucking firms and independent drivers trying to watch the bottom line. According to AAA, the average price of diesel in California pushed past $6.60 per gallon. “Gasoline prices have continued their rally in the last week with oil prices…

Inflated used truck prices adding to the woes of mom-and-pop firms

Inflated used truck prices adding to the woes of mom-and-pop firms

Runaway inflation has hit most Americans right in the pocketbook – but small, independent trucking firms are taking the brunt of the blow. The price of a used commercial truck has doubled in the last year, affecting the bottom line of hundreds of thousands of small trucking firms. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Administration…

Do not look now but that semi next to you may not have a driver

Do not look now but that semi next to you may not have a driver

For years, talk in the trucking industry has been about the emergence of driverless or autonomous vehicles traveling on our highways. Most considered the prospect a future possibility. That future has arrived. One example is San Diego-based TuSimple, founded in 2015. TuSimple is a developer of heavy-duty, self-driving trucks and the autonomous startup has already…

Trucking industry steps up to help people of Ukraine

Trucking industry steps up to help people of Ukraine

When Russia invaded Ukraine, it triggered a humanitarian crisis of monumental proportions. Cities have been devastated and millions forced to flee from their homes. Thousands of innocent civilians have lost their lives. As expected, international relief agencies such as Save the Children, International Red Cross, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, among others, have rushed…

Connecticut looks to former inmates to fill trucking jobs

Connecticut looks to former inmates to fill trucking jobs

Desperate for truck drivers, Connecticut’s state Senate recently passed legislation creating a public-private partnership that would require the Department of Correction to make space and technology available to administer CDL testing to inmates scheduled for release within six months. Transportation Committee Co-Chair Will Haskell said the prison-to-work pipeline bill addresses both high recidivism and the…

TravelCenters of America Inc. acquires two Travel Center locations for $45 Million

TravelCenters of America Inc. acquires two Travel Center locations for $45 Million

TravelCenters of America Inc. announced the acquisition of two travel center locations for $45 million. Located along the Interstate 81 corridor in Virginia, Petro Raphine and TA Lexington have been successful TA franchise locations since 2011. TA expects to realize significantly more cashflow from owning these locations than as franchise locations and forecasts these locations…

Facing a driver shortage, DOL sponsors apprenticeship program

Facing a driver shortage, DOL sponsors apprenticeship program

According to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the industry is facing a shortage of 80,000 drivers. The U.S. DOT says roughly 300,000 drivers a year leave the profession. Nick Geale, vice president of workforce policy at ATA, said opening the industry to women, veterans, and younger drivers, who are currently largely restricted from entering the…

ATA responds to EPA proposal on heavy-duty truck emissions

ATA responds to EPA proposal on heavy-duty truck emissions

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is reviewing the Biden Administration’s proposal to reduce heavy-duty truck emissions to ensure that new rules result in “usable, reliable and cost-effective equipment.” Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new, stronger standards to promote clean air and reduce pollution from heavy-duty vehicles and engines starting in model year…