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Consumer confidence grew in August from a five-month low in July, the New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday.

Several trade groups told federal regulators that requiring more detailed information on applications for special permits to haul hazardous materials will not increase hazmat safety and will increase the paperwork burden on applicants.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is eyeing a much broader mandate than originally thought as part of its upcoming expanded electronic onboard recorder proposal, according to several officials who spoke with Transport Topics.

The Idaho Department of Transportation has appealed a court ruling that revoked special DOT permits granted to ConocoPhillips to transport oversized loads of oil refinery equipment.

Surface transportation trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico rose 37.6% in June from a year earlier, the Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

Orders for new trailers rose 74% in July over July 2009, pushing year-to-date levels ahead by the same percentage, ACT Research Co. reported.

The prediction by some people is that the new CSA rules will take 5% or more over-the-road drivers off our highways. To some folks that may be a good thing.

About the only silver lining that seems to be coming from the obvious slowdown of the U.S. economy is that it’s taking pressure off domestic fuel prices, in part by encouraging commodities speculators to find other places to ply their trade.

If your fleet uses electronic driver logs and plans to buy trucks after June 4, 2012, be sure to tell your company’s chief technology officer ahead of time.