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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has renewed its call to ban the use of hands-free cell phones for all drivers operating commercial motor vehicles. NTSB issued its recommendation in late October as part of a final report on a May 2013 collision involving a freight train and a dump truck in Rosedale, MD. The…

Patrick Jones, executive director of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, says state and local governments now must take the lead in dealing with the transportation issues. “The transportation ballot initiatives in Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and Wisconsin are strong evidence that states are not waiting for the federal government to act,” he explained. “Reflecting…

The recent handling of automotive recalls by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has prompted a review from the U.S. DOT. NHTSA was responsible for the recalling of millions of vehicles with defective airbags. These airbags were installed by Takata, a Japanese auto supplier and are evidently defenseless to moisture which causes them to…

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will invest $1 million to help U.S. veterans train for careers as truck drivers and help alleviate a shortage of skilled drivers. FMCSA will provide grants to nine technical and community colleges to bolster their driver training programs for veterans. The funding, which will help train 400 new…

A senior executive of XPO Logistics, one of the largest and fastest growing U.S. third-party logistics providers, says the company sees potential in driverless trucks and is closely following advancements in the technology. “We’re excited about driverless trucks,” said Scott Malat, chief strategy officer. “There are all kinds of implications for our industry.” Though years…

Ryder System Inc., a leader in commercial fleet management and supply chain solutions, announced today that C.A.T. Inc. has signed a full-service lease agreement for 100 compressed natural gas (CNG) sleeper tractors. This is Ryder’s first natural gas lease customer in Canada and its largest single natural gas vehicle customer to date. C.A.T., a truckload…

Last year’s record-setting snowfalls and bitter cold temperatures depleted road salt stockpiles and are driving up prices for many states new prepping for this winter. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) received bids in excess of $100 per ton, triple the price paid last year. The rocketing prices prompted Midwest Salt of Fort Wayne to…

In November, Massachusetts voters will decide whether to repeal a provision in a 2013 transportation financing law that calls for indexing the state’s gas tax to inflation. By linking the gas tax to inflation, the 2013 Massachusetts Legislature created a situation where gas taxes would automatically increase when the Consumer Price Index went up. Opponents…

A group of Philadelphia FedEx Freight drivers recently voted to join a local Teamsters union, a landmark move for the company’s drivers who are seeking improved working conditions. The group of 47 drivers, who work at FedEx Freight’s East Philadelphia terminal in Croydon, Pa., voted 26-18 in favor of joining the Local 107 union.The drivers…

Advancements in new clean diesel technology that has resulted in a transit buses with near zero emissions is being adopted by U.S. transit officials at a faster pace than other large vehicle sectors, according to Ezra Finkin, the Director of Policy for the Diesel Technology Forum. Finkin explained that U.S. transit agencies were adopting clean…