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Rebecca Brewster, president and CEO of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), is predicting a capacity shortage for the trucking industry, according to a report in the Jacksonville Business Journal. Brewster told reporter Stifel Nicolaus that a number of factors are in play: In 2013, 56 percent of truck drivers were older than 45 years…

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) and a coalition of 37 other organizations warned Congress about the dangers of devolving the federal highway program and urged passage of a robust, long-term highway bill that secures the federal role in transportation, according to an ATA press release. “As the nation’s primary movers of interstate commerce, a uniform…

Shipping by highway, rail and water between the U.S. and Canada was enhanced recently when government officials signed a deal to streamline border inspections, according to a report in the Detroit News. The proposed change could mean shifting some American customs inspections to the Canadian sides of the border crossings at Detroit and Port Huron,…

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says 317,000 crashes involving large trucks were reported to law enforcement in 2012, with an economic impact of $99 billion, according to the center’s Vital Signs report. About 2.6 million workers in the US drive trucks that weigh over 10,000 pounds. After dropping to 35-year lows in 2009, the…

A report recently released by the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California – Davis and Rice University says switching from diesel fuel to natural gas for heavy-duty trucks could hold advantages for the U.S. economy. The report examines the economic and environmental viability of such a shift, and whether it could enable…

Truckers with smart phones will soon be able to find parking spaces along Interstate 75 in eastern Tennessee by using new high-tech research sites, according to a news report in the Chattanooga Times Free-Press. According to the article, Tennessee DOT (TDOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are teamed up on the “SmartPark”…

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been awarded a five-year, $20.16 million contract by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide testing and analytical services related to vehicle emissions and fuel consumption, according to an institute release. Key areas of support include emissions characterization and technology assessment. SwRI can develop test procedures and equipment for…

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx was speaking to the faithful last week when he urged members of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to lobby members of Congress for a long-term transportation bill. Foxx cited U.S. DOT’s report, “Beyond Traffic,” which documents the need for greater investment into transportation infrastructure. AASHTO…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced the formation of a 26-member advisory committee that is tasked with updating classroom and new behind-the-wheel training requirements for professional truck and bus drivers, according to an agency press release. The first meeting of the advisory committee is scheduled this week in…

The American Soybean Association (ASA) wants Congress to increase truck weight limits on U.S. highways, according to an association report. ASA is pointing to a recent study by the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC), “Heavier Semis: A Good Idea?” which considers raising the weight limit from the current 80,000 lbs. with five axles to 97,000 lbs….