°®¶¹´«Ã½

WASHINGTON — American Trucking Associations Chairman Ray Kuntz asked a Senate committee Wednesday to make fundamental changes to federal surface transportation programs in order to allow the trucking industry to move freight more efficiently.

Federal officials and Port of Long Beach, Calif., executives were scheduled to meet privately this week to develop measures aimed at boosting local enrollment for the government’s Transportation Worker Identification program, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported Tuesday.

YRC Worldwide unit USF Holland’s president, John O’Sullivan, has left his position and will be succeeded by Keith Lovetro, who leads YRC’s Regional Transportation unit, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

For most truckers, the U.S. Department of Transportation physical is just an inconvenience, but for some, it can be a major hurdle. Commercial drivers are understandably concerned, because without the Medical Examiner’s Certificate, they would be out of a job.

Manufacturing growth in New York state improved this month, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday.

Prices paid to U.S. producers jumped 1.1% in March, reflecting higher fuel and food costs, the Labor Department said Tuesday.

The use of heavier trucks can be an effective way for the industry to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, a new study by the American Transportation Research Institute said.