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Testifying before a U.S. Senate committee on transportation, American Trucking Associations (ATA) executive vice-president David Osiecki recently advocated government agencies reconsider how safety in trucking is enforced. Osiecki said most enforcement resources are funneled into roadside enforcement but data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that on-road traffic enforcement is more than…

Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute (VTTI) has been awarded two federal contracts worth a potential $55 million to study safety for commercial truck drivers and conduct research in the field of autonomous vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) awarded VTTI a five-year contract with a $30 million ceiling and the National Highway Traffic Safety…

While Congress appears headed for another stopgap funding measure for transportation, the Obama administration is pushing the Build America Investment Initiative (BAII), which would make it easier for private entities to assist state transportation agencies and local governments in the task of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure. “The Build America Investment Initiative is a federal government-wide…

Earlier this month, on a stretch of the A14 autobahn in eastern Germany, Daimler demonstrated its Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025. The truck, using autonomous technology, is capable of moving in traffic at speeds up to 52 miles per hour. “The Future Truck 2025 leads to more efficiency, and better safety and connectivity,” said Dr. Wolfgang…

The U.S. House of Representatives last week passed a $10.9 billion extension of U.S. transportation funding through May 2015. The measure effectively puts off the issue of transportation infrastructure funding until next year. The stopgap measure, if approved by the Senate, will avert federal cutbacks next month for roads, bridges and transit projects. Senate Majority…

With much of the national focus on Hours of Service and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rules, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is pushing the federal government to establish minimum, behind-the-wheel training standards for new truck drivers – something that does not exist today. “Instead of relying on technology and making misguided, hours-of-service regulations changes,…

A national shortage of truck drivers, coupled with new federal trucking regulations and higher fuel costs could soon hit consumers in the wallet. With the U.S. economy getting healthier, more people are buying consumer goods and that means more goods need to be shipped. Michigan-based Con-way Freight has a fleet of 9,500 trucks with an…

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Anne Ferro has come under fire from several trucking associations with the Kansas City-based Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) calling for her resignation. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) said the industry is “justified in having serious concerns” about Ferro’s tenure at FMCSA but stopped short of calling for…

Plans to raise the minimum insurance coverage on trucks were issued a roadblock in the U.S. House of Representatives recently when the House voted 214-212 in favor of an amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill that would place a cap on insurance coverage. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Steve Daines…

In the wake of the truck-car crash in early June that killed comedian James McNair and seriously injured 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is urging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to accelerate the rulemaking process for Electronic Logging Devices (ELD). ELDs track how many hours a trucker has…