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In its most recent forecast, the Department of Energy lowered its forecast for 2015 U.S. diesel prices by two cents to $2.83 per gallon while slightly boosting the forecast for crude oil prices. DOE predicts diesel will slide to $2.70 per gallon from March through August before rising, according to DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA)….

The turnover rate at large truckload carriers rose one percentage point to an annualized rate of 97 percent in the third quarter of 2014, according to new data released by American Trucking Associations (ATA). “Driver turnover, which is a good barometer of the driver market, remains high,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “While it…

Work slowdowns and a looming strike at West Coast ports is now having a ripple effect on the entire U.S. supply chain, according to a report in The World Property Journal. “If the dispute is not resolved quickly, we will see significant ripple effects throughout our regional and national economies. In the short term, shippers…

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found Saia Motor Freight Line guilty of one willful and 11 safety and health violations connected with an Aug. 6, 2014 explosion at its St. Louis terminal, according to an article on WorkersCompensation.com. The online article reported that OSHA has proposed penalties of $119,000…

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he would rather rely on $1.3 billion in bond revenue to fund transportation improvements rather than a gas tax increase some in his state are pushing. According to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Walker wants to increase the state’s bonding for transportation by 30 percent. “Governor Walker’s goal,…

New York’s State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has finalized regulations that will allow construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) refueling stations in all parts of the state except New York City. Under the agency’s regulations, facilities would be allowed to store up to 70,000 gallons of LNG. DEC anticipates that virtually all of the…

Road Safe America founder Steve Owings recently asked a committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors to support a rule to slow the nation’s heaviest commercial tractor-trailers to 65 mph or slower. Owings is asking for a support for a U.S. DOT rule that would require the big rigs to use speed governors on the…

Rep. Bud Shuster (R-PA), a key member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says this is the year for the modernization of freight corridors, according to a report in Bloomberg News. “Freight is very important. And we’re looking at putting dollars back into the corridors,” said Shuster. Shuster’s committee will be a major player…

Leaders of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) expressed disappointment with President Obama’s recent State of the Union speech for his lack of detail about U.S. infrastructure investment. “Just mentioning infrastructure is not a solution to our nation’s critical needs, and by simply bringing the topic up without details President Obama missed an opportunity to underscore…

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AAA auto club and American Trucking Associations are urging Congress to raise the federal gas tax to close a transportation funding shortfall that has reached an estimated $16 billion per year. “There are many challenges that Congress must address this year, but we believe that finding a solution for funding…