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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a five-year exemption from the 30-minute rest-break requirement for trucks hauling petroleum products and will allow fuel trucks to operate 12 hours a day without triggering the requirement under certain conditions.

Mayors across America still are waiting for the White House’s infrastructure plan as cities continue to cope with highway congestion. Many of them will be in Washington this week for the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ winter meeting. Here's a look at the week ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill.

WASHINGTON — The chorus of support for funding highways and infrastructure grew louder last week with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce unveiling a four-point plan that would raise fuel taxes, expedite the permitting process, facilitate more private investment and help construction firms address a shortage of skilled labor.

Trucking firms are revved up for 2018, with predictions of tight capacity and strong demand for freight hauling setting the stage for an anticipated big year ahead for the industry, and indicators pointing to a potentially sustained period of business expansion in the United States and around the globe.

2017 was a year of anticipation for the freight transportation industry, leading up to the long-awaited Dec. 18 mandate for broad adoption of electronic logging devices to track hours of service.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello (right) looks back on the 2017 year in trucking, calling it a "transition year" and expecting better things ahead for 2018. His interview with TT's Joe Howard is part of our Dec. 13 LiveOnWeb program, "2017 Year in Review."

The dilapidated stretch of Interstate 95, or the Turnpike, along Newark’s metropolitan region in beautiful New Jersey needs to be repaired soon, and raising federal taxes on fuel is the way to go about it, Rep. Donald Payne Jr. said amid Congress’ debate on tax policy. A look at the week ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill.

Video: Cummins' Tim Proctor, left, talks with TT's Roger Gilroy about meeting the fuel economy needs of customers who are concerned about global warming.