ATA files suit against NY State Thruway over use of toll revenues

ATA files suit against NY State Thruway over use of toll revenues

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has filed a lawsuit challenging the New York State Thruway Authority’s (NYSTA) diversion of millions of dollars of toll revenues every year to maintain the New York Canal System. “During these times of under funding highway infrastructure, we cannot afford to have tolling authorities take the money users pay for…

Feds want to make it easier for military drivers to make transition

Feds want to make it easier for military drivers to make transition

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Making the transition from military truck driver to the commercial ranks will be a bit easier if recommendations from the U.S. DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are adopted. FMCSA’s recommendations are the result of a recently-released study mandated in the MAP-21 legislation that analyzed training, testing and licensing similarities and…

Truckers seek relief from U.S. Supreme Court on cross-border trucking

Truckers seek relief from U.S. Supreme Court on cross-border trucking

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Stymied at the lower court level, the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision that allows Mexican commercial driver’s licenses to be recognized as valid in cross-border trucking operations. OOIDA has argued that the cross-border trucking program violates U.S. DOT regulations requiring valid…

Trucking industry making slight shift to natural gas

Trucking industry making slight shift to natural gas

Some of the largest trucking fleets in the United States are starting to make the shift from diesel fuel to natural gas. Companies such as Lowe’s, Proctor & Gamble, United Parcel Service and FedEx are accelerating a shift to natural gas fueled trucks, betting that higher prices for diesel over natural gas will continue. According…

Legislators take another crack at truck driver drug testing bill

Legislators take another crack at truck driver drug testing bill

Arkansas Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark) and John Boozman (R-Ark), along with Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark) are taking another run at new legislation that would enable trucking firms to conduct random drug tests on truck drivers’ hair, a measure they say would make America’s highways safer. “Advanced uniform drug testing requirements for trucking companies will help…

Truckers get HOS waivers to deal with propane shortage

Truckers get HOS waivers to deal with propane shortage

Unusually heavy rains in the Midwest this year have left cornfields soggier than usual, creating a shortage of propane used to power the giant, oven-like dryers used to dry the corn before it is stored to prevent rot. Consequently, governors in Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Montana have issued executive…

NTSB slams FMCSA over motor carrier oversight

NTSB slams FMCSA over motor carrier oversight

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) last week called for audits of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) stewardship of the U.S. motor carrier industry. At the root of NTSB’s scathing report are four crashes that resulted in 25 deaths and 83 injuries. In each accident, investigators identified safety deficiencies and noted red flags…

ATA refutes Brazilian study findings about drug and alcohol use among truckers

ATA refutes Brazilian study findings about drug and alcohol use among truckers

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has come out swinging against a recent Brazilian study that claims drug and alcohol use among commercial drivers is as high as 12 percent. ATA CEO Bill Graves said the real number on drug and alcohol use is less than one percent, according to statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier…