More than 100 companies and organizations are putting their weight behind proposed federal legislation that would allow truck drivers under 21 to transport loads across state lines.

More than 100 companies and organizations are putting their weight behind proposed federal legislation that would allow truck drivers under 21 to transport loads across state lines.

More than 100 companies and organizations are putting their weight behind proposed federal legislation that would allow truck drivers under 21 to transport loads across state lines. The companies and organizations, including heavyweights like the American Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association, FedEx, Home Depot, Nestle, UPS, Walmart, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sent a…

U.S. Xpress Safe Trucking Report outlines safety recommendations

U.S. Xpress Safe Trucking Report outlines safety recommendations

National trucking firm U.S. Xpress recently released its Safe Trucking Report, outlining a series of road safety measures the company endorses as well as industry best practices. The report includes results of a survey among more than 2,000 respondents. “Shippers entrust us with a huge responsibility and want to work with safety-conscious carriers who view…

Battle lines drawn for proposed Insurance Act legislation that would increase insurance minimums for nation’s motor carriers

Battle lines drawn for proposed Insurance Act legislation that would increase insurance minimums for nation’s motor carriers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Illinois) recently reintroduced Insurance Act legislation that would tie minimum insurance requirements for motor carriers to the inflation rate of medical costs. The current minimum coverage of $750,000 was established in 1980. Last year, Rep. Garcia introduced legislation that called for the minimum requirements to increase to $4.9…

Ninth Circuit upholds California’s preemption on meal and rest break rules

Ninth Circuit upholds California’s preemption on meal and rest break rules

The United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit last month upheld the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) authority to review state commercial vehicle rules, ruling that FMCSA could preempt truckers from California’s meal and rest break rules as they apply to truck drivers subject to federal hours-of-service regulations. “The Court’s ruling is a victory…

Infrastructure investment remains on Biden administration’s radar

Infrastructure investment remains on Biden administration’s radar

Momentum is gathering for a major investment into America’s crumbling infrastructure, according to American Trucking Associations’ CEO Chris Spear. “Once the finest in the world, America’s infrastructure has instead become a visible symbol of our challenges of governance. In the coming months, the American Society of Civil Engineers will issue its updated scorecard on American…

Trucking industry reacts to Biden presidential victory

Trucking industry reacts to Biden presidential victory

With Democrat Joe Biden now the projected winner of the White House, different sectors of the trucking industry are reacting to the 2020 presidential election. Chris Spear, president, and CEO of American Trucking Associations (ATA) offered up his congratulations on Nov. 7. “We congratulate President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris on their hard-earned victory, and…

ATA says trucking has kept America moving during pandemic

ATA says trucking has kept America moving during pandemic

American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) CEO Chris Spear told a recent Management Conference audience that the trucking industry’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has kept the nation’s interstate commerce rolling. “While others in DC panicked, the ATA led, giving direction and certainty to our members when it mattered most,” Spear said in his annual State of…

Driver shortage, parking, compensation top ATRI’s list of top trucking industry issues

Driver shortage, parking, compensation top ATRI’s list of top trucking industry issues

The American Transportation Research Institute’s (ATRI) annual survey of top issues facing the industry found driver shortage, truck parking, driver compensation and retention and insurance costs on the minds of industry survey respondents. “For a number of reasons, 2020 has been a tremendously challenging one for our industry and our country, but as ATRI’s survey…

OOIDA wants history of owner-operator model considered by DOL

OOIDA wants history of owner-operator model considered by DOL

In September, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule that would create an economic reality test to determine whether a worker was an employee or contractor, an issue that has moved to the forefront with the rising gig economy. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) submitted formal comments to DOL, asking the…