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A report recently released by the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California – Davis and Rice University says switching from diesel fuel to natural gas for heavy-duty trucks could hold advantages for the U.S. economy. The report examines the economic and environmental viability of such a shift, and whether it could enable…

Truckers with smart phones will soon be able to find parking spaces along Interstate 75 in eastern Tennessee by using new high-tech research sites, according to a news report in the Chattanooga Times Free-Press. According to the article, Tennessee DOT (TDOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are teamed up on the “SmartPark”…

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been awarded a five-year, $20.16 million contract by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide testing and analytical services related to vehicle emissions and fuel consumption, according to an institute release. Key areas of support include emissions characterization and technology assessment. SwRI can develop test procedures and equipment for…

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx was speaking to the faithful last week when he urged members of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to lobby members of Congress for a long-term transportation bill. Foxx cited U.S. DOT’s report, “Beyond Traffic,” which documents the need for greater investment into transportation infrastructure. AASHTO…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced the formation of a 26-member advisory committee that is tasked with updating classroom and new behind-the-wheel training requirements for professional truck and bus drivers, according to an agency press release. The first meeting of the advisory committee is scheduled this week in…

The American Soybean Association (ASA) wants Congress to increase truck weight limits on U.S. highways, according to an association report. ASA is pointing to a recent study by the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC), “Heavier Semis: A Good Idea?” which considers raising the weight limit from the current 80,000 lbs. with five axles to 97,000 lbs….

Four highway safety groups have petitioned the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require large trucks and buses to install technology that alerts the driver to stopped traffic ahead and brakes the vehicle if the driver does not respond, according to an Associated Press report. AP reporter Tom Krisher reported that Advocates for Highway and…

In its most recent forecast, the Department of Energy lowered its forecast for 2015 U.S. diesel prices by two cents to $2.83 per gallon while slightly boosting the forecast for crude oil prices. DOE predicts diesel will slide to $2.70 per gallon from March through August before rising, according to DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA)….

The turnover rate at large truckload carriers rose one percentage point to an annualized rate of 97 percent in the third quarter of 2014, according to new data released by American Trucking Associations (ATA). “Driver turnover, which is a good barometer of the driver market, remains high,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “While it…

Work slowdowns and a looming strike at West Coast ports is now having a ripple effect on the entire U.S. supply chain, according to a report in The World Property Journal. “If the dispute is not resolved quickly, we will see significant ripple effects throughout our regional and national economies. In the short term, shippers…