Intermodal rail traffic in the United States fell 16.1% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
August 7, 2009BusinessSafetyGovernment
Ex-FBI Agent Reportedly Will Head TSA
The Obama administration plans to nominate former FBI agent Erroll Southers to head the Transportation Security Administration, the Associated Press reported.
August 10, 2009Letters to the EditorBusinessGovernmentSafety
Letters: Perception vs. Reality, Containers, Road Fund Cash
Three different articles in your July 20 publication underline the huge disconnect between current policymakers’ perception and the realities of our industry.
August 10, 2009BusinessSafetyFuel
ATA Urges Limits on Oil Futures to Prevent Excessive Speculation
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission should create position limits on energy contracts across all trading platforms to protect the trucking industry from excessive speculation in oil futures, a representative of American Trucking Associations testified at recent CFTC hearings.
August 10, 2009BusinessSafetyGovernment
States Pay for Transportation Costs with Newer Bonding, Loan Programs
Faced with capacity and maintenance limitations and inadequate revenues, states are taking advantage of newer bonding and federally guaranteed loan programs to help underwrite transportation costs, according to a new report.
August 10, 2009BusinessSafetyGovernmentTechnologyEquipment
DOT Targets Distractions
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood an-nounced last week he will take steps to try to further curb distracting driving activities such as text messaging or using a cell phone or a Global Positioning System device.
August 10, 2009BusinessGovernmentSafety
Maersk Starts Chassis Fee at N.Y.-New Jersey Port
Maersk Line’s chassis rental fee went into effect at the Port of New York and New Jersey on Aug. 3, and although there were not any freight disruptions, the head of a trade group for drayage haulers said that the rollout could have gone smoother.
August 10, 2009BusinessGovernmentSafetyEquipment
ArvinMeritor Posts $162 Million Quarterly Loss
Manufacturer ArvinMeritor Inc. said it lost $162 million in the April-to-June quarter, while also announcing last week it has found a buyer for its light-vehicle wheels business and has stepped up its marketing effort for truck disc and drum brakes ahead of the government’s new truck stopping-distance rule.
August 10, 2009BusinessGovernmentSafetyFuel
SCR Engines May Emit Toxins, CARB Staffer’s Letter Warns
The selective catalytic reduction process that most engine manufacturers will use to comply with 2010 federal diesel emission standards could emit toxic byproducts, the California Air Resources Board’s top researcher wrote in a recent letter filed in federal court by Navistar Inc.
August 10, 2009BusinessGovernmentSafety
Opinion: Trucking and Lease Accounting Changes
The Financial Accounting Standards Board and its sister organization are working jointly on reviewing changes to the current U.S. Financial Accounting Standards 13 and International Accounting Standards 17 for leasing.
August 7, 2009