Investigators claim corruption at St. Louis trucking school Federal investigators say the owner of a St. Louis trucking school bribed a third-party CDL administrator to approve CDL exams for some 600 of his students, many of whom were Bosnian and spoke little English.
Trucking stocks on the rise amidst company privatization rumors Publicly held stocks some trucking companies are going up – partially because, the Houston Chronicle reports, investors hope the companies will go private and offer top dollar for the shares.
Chinese tires questioned over potentially dangerous defect There hasn't been an official recall, but the Wall Street Journal reported that nearly 1 million car tires that were made in China and sold in the U.S. could be dangerously defective.
New Missouri law provides tax breaks for certain trucks Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has signed a bill into law that includes a provision that offers tax breaks for certain trucks. It also modifies rules for household movers.
Trucking family deals with loss of young husband, father Darrell Nunley called home on Friday, June 1, as he did every night before bed when out on the road. However, on this night, he said he felt sharp pain “like a knife” in the middle of his back.
Legislative mix-up gives New Jersey governor privatization power Although they didn't plan to, New Jersey lawmakers have given Gov. Jon Corzine a free pass to get ready to lease or sell state assets, such as the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.
Pennsylvania may limit idling statewide; Massachusetts pursues effort A bill in the Pennsylvania House is intended to reduce unnecessary idling of large trucks throughout in the state. In most instances, drivers idling their trucks while sleeping or resting would be exempt from the rule.
Louisiana bill clarifies tax exemption for certain trucks; other bills of note The Louisiana Senate has approved a bill intended to clarify the sales and use tax exemption for certain trucks and trailers. Other bills also making their way through the statehouse include a bill to repeal a tax on household movers and add more state troopers.
DHS to toughen land and port entry requirements in January U.S. citizens don't always need photo IDs and birth certificates when they head to Mexico or Canada, but that requirement is coming, according to the U.S. government's top anti-terrorism department.
Florida governor signs toll road lease bill The Florida Department of Transportation can lease most toll roads in the state to private groups, under a bill signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist.
New Jersey privatization push may be delayed New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to lease the state's toll roads to private investors is now on hold until after the November elections, according to the Star-Ledger .
New Texas law expands truck enforcement Texas Gov. Rick Perry has signed a bill into law intended to allow more police in the state to enforce truck rules. The new law takes effect Sept. 1.
Michigan bill targets predatory fuel pricing If a Michigan state lawmaker gets his way, it would be illegal for fuel stations to limit the amount of fuel they sell to customers.
Police release name of Canadian trucker ‘hero' Police investigators in Ontario, Canada, say they agree with eyewitnesses who described a tanker-truck driver who died in a recent traffic wreck as a “hero.”
Illegal Brazilian nationals charged in alleged CDL scam Twelve men were arrested in Philadelphia last week on charges of obtaining or using fraudulent CDLs – and most of them were also charged with being in the country illegally.
Hot fuel lawsuits consolidated to Kansas courtroom A federal judicial panel has ruled to consolidate the many “hot fuel” lawsuits, assigning the case to a single judge in a federal courtroom in the state of Kansas.
California bill tackles ‘hot fuel' issue A California state lawmaker is calling for a study to analyze the problem of so-called “hot fuel” along with possible solutions to make sure consumers get what they pay for at the pump.
Tax and fees hikes for Delaware roads sidelined An effort that would have helped Delaware cover a six-year, $1.5 billion shortfall during the next six years for transportation has been scrapped. Among the concerns that led to the bill's demise were higher truck fees.
Trucker called ‘hero' after fatal accident Eyewitnesses to a fatal tanker-truck crash near Bradford, Ontario, Canada, on Monday are calling the trucker who died in the wreck a hero.
Bring on the chicken lights? Truckers who add lights around the three-lamp identification cluster now have a free pass to do so – or do they?
ATA says driver turnover on the rise Driver turnover among large truckload carriers increased in the first three months of this year, according to the American Trucking Association.
Groups to issue report card on cross-border program Organizations representing U.S. truck drivers, safety advocates and motorists will issue a “report card” and a study detailing how the Bush administration is defying Congress with the U. S. DOT's attempt to open the border to trucks from Mexico.
Port container tax bill advances in California The California Senate approved a bill that would generate more than $525 million annually from shippers at ports in the state. It has been forwarded to the Assembly for further consideration.
Effort to toll I-70 in Missouri fails, again A legislative effort in the Missouri General Assembly to eliminate a couple of barriers prohibiting toll roads and bridges from being built in the state has died.
U.S. House says passport rule should be delayed The U.S. House Rules Committee chairwoman has announced the House “overwhelmingly” voted to delay implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative – which includes passport rules for North American travel – until at least June 2009.
Road delay bill vetoed in Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue dropped the ax on a bill that sought to get tough with contractors who cause construction delays on Georgia roads.
Good Samaritan trucker shielded crashed motorcyclist Cement truck driver Roberto Gauna slammed on his brakes and swung the back end of his cement truck across two lanes of traffic, preventing motorcyclist Jeff Blessing from being hit.
OOIDA launches new ‘hot fuel' Web site In an effort to educate the general public about the issue of “hot fuel,” the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has taken its fight to the Internet.
Toll road bill sent to Tennessee governor With the state struggling to pay for needed transportation work, the Tennessee Legislature approved a bill that would authorize tolling as a method to pay for new road and bridge work in the state.
Several trucking bills put on hold in Illinois A bill in the Illinois House that intended to allow some large trucks access on local roads in the state has stalled. A handful of other truck-related bills also have been sidelined for the year.
Now that's a hot tamale U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized one-and-a-half tons of undeclared Mexican white cheese and a half-ton of frozen pork from a Mexican truck pulling a reefer into the U.S. through the border crossing at Pharr, TX.
Boyda: It may be up to the courts Democratic congresswoman Nancy Boyda of Kansas says stopping Mexican cross-border trucking may now be up to the courts.
Illinois bill stalls; would have blocked hand-off of tollway A bill in Illinois to block any effort to sell or lease the state's tollway system has been set aside for the year. It was moved to the House Rules Committee where it can be brought back for consideration once the 2008 session begins.
Coalition says Los Angeles area ports ignored port overhaul plea A coalition of retailers and shippers say they proposed a restructuring of the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports aimed to reduce emissions from rail engines, ships and trucks that wouldn't punish owner-operators or small trucking companies.
Louisiana House OKs plans for road work With the end of the regular session in Louisiana less than two weeks away, a bill still drawing consideration would pump about $450 million more into transportation projects.
Nevada ports of entry bill dies When the clock struck midnight on the Nevada regular session, a bill to establish four ports of entry in the state officially died.
New Nevada law boosts funding for roads Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons signed a bill into law that will cover 20 percent of the state's shortfall in road funding. A provision that would have boosted taxes on truckers was removed before the bill was sent to the governor.
CARB collected $1 million-plus from trucking companies in 2006 The California Air Resources Board wrote 1,992 citations, collected $6.7 million in penalties and inspected 17,000 heavy-duty vehicles in 2006 to enforce emission laws, according to a recently released CARB report.
Truck manufacturers oppose CAFE standards in Senate bill As U.S. senators prepare to debate a large-scale energy bill, truck and engine manufacturers are speaking out against proposed fuel-mileage standards for heavy trucks.
California emissions lawsuit ‘inevitable' California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says it appears “inevitable” that the state will sue the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.
No charges in wheelchair-truck incident A trucker who unknowingly pushed a man in a wheelchair for four miles down a Michigan road will not be charged in relation to the incident.
DOT Web site for submitting comments offline The online ability to submit comments to the feds is down for four days because of the relocation of the Department of Transportation’s computers.
Trucks being checked for explosives residue during NYC inspections Ever had your tires swabbed during a road-side inspection? New York City police have added that to their checklist on some inspections, to detect if there are traces of explosive material on the tires.
FMCSA limits lighting on trucks, trailers Truckers who have auxiliary lights on either side of the three-lamp cluster on their trucks or trailers face violations, thanks to a revision of the lighting regs issued by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration officials.
J.B. Hunt sues pickup truck driver It's usually the four-wheeler who sues the trucker after a wreck. But Arkansas-based J.B. Hunt Transport is suing two Canton, MS, men after a Hunt truck collided with the back of a pickup on May 1.
California's next step: low-carbon fuel? The California Air Resources Board is expected to soon issue regulations for new kinds of fuels – diesel and gasoline that will have lower carbon content than today's versions.
Big oil companies cancel expansion projects Instead of expanding their refinery capacity – which could drive fuel prices down – big oil is canceling expansion projects, according to the Wall Street Journal .
China bans ethanol production to conserve corn While the U.S. and many other countries are racing to increase their production of corn-based ethanol, China has just placed a moratorium on the production of the biofuel.
California trucker shot in road rage incident A 43-year-old San Pedro, CA, trucker remained hospitalized in stable condition Monday after being shot in an apparent road rage incident in Long Beach early Friday.
Failed Alabama bills addressed fuel taxes, left-lane use and probable cause As the clock winds down on the regular legislative session in Alabama, several bills of interest to the trucking industry have fallen by the wayside. Among the failed efforts were legislation to increase fuel taxes, limit left-lane use and give law enforcement officers more power to arrest people for misdemeanors.
As Roadcheck wraps up, inspection stories begin rolling in The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Roadcheck 2007 came to a close on Thursday and reports from inspection points are starting to come in about the results of the annual blitz.
Busted for pot in Hempstead County A driver from Texas was busted in Arkansas on Thursday, June 7, after police found more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana in his truck.
Which border ID will you need? Take your pick The federal government has backed way off from its original plan of requiring returning truckers and other Americans to show a passport at the land border crossings beginning next year.
Indiana, Illinois squabble over toll discounts Scheduled toll increases and a planned discount program for residents of seven Indiana counties have upset Illinois users of the Indiana Toll Road.
Canadian rail strike coming to an end A three-week strike by Canadian Pacific Railway workers is effectively over, after the railroad and the Teamster’s union reached a tentative three-year contract on Wednesday, June 6.
Roadcheck turns up non-English-speaking driver Wednesday, June 6, is the second day of CVSA’s International Roadcheck, with an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 officers pulling trucks over for inspections in the U.S. and Canada.
Truck Show Las Vegas starts Thursday If you happen to be traveling through Las Vegas this weekend, it might be a good time to stop – and not just for the slots and cheap buffets.
Six die in botched smuggling operation Six people died in a tractor-trailer Monday in southern Mexico Monday during a human smuggling operation gone awry.
Oklahoma lawmakers reinstitute ‘speed trap’ law Just when former “speed trap” towns in Oklahoma thought they could get their ticket books back out, legislators in the statehouse opted to undo an effort granting police that authority.
Bid to end split speed limit moves to Illinois governor For the third time in recent years, legislation headed to Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s desk could bring an end to split speed limits in Illinois. The margin of support in the statehouse would be enough to withstand a veto.
Proposed LA/Long Beach port plan meets staunch criticism As the massive twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach approach an operations overhaul, critics of the proposal say it could lead to decreased competition at other U.S. ports.
Road safety bills die, stall in Delaware An effort intended to improve safety on roadways in Delaware by restricting drivers’ cell phone use has died. Another bill to toughen the state’s open container law is stalled.
Louisiana House approves bill OK’ing local bridge authority With transportation officials in Louisiana struggling to find money to pay for road and bridge projects throughout the state, a bill halfway through the statehouse would help foot the bill for a bridge over the Ouachita River.
International Roadcheck ’07 begins Tuesday Don’t forget – the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's International Roadcheck inspection program starts Tuesday and runs through Thursday.
Connecticut bill would increase weigh station hours A Connecticut legislative panel has advanced a bill intended to increase safety on the state’s roadways by keeping truck weigh stations open longer hours.
Fire destroys MD trucking company A six-alarm fire Sunday night destroyed the offices and warehouse of a trucking company that’ s operated in the Baltimore, MD, area for more than 100 years.
TravelCenters of America acquires Petro There's been a big shake-up in the world of truck stops. Travel Centers of America has announced it acquired Petro Stopping Centers in a $700 million deal that involves both outright ownership of some facilities and the lease of others.
Edwards calls for investigation of big oil Presidential hopeful John Edwards wants the Justice Department to investigate a rash of recent mergers in the oil industry, and determine what impact those mergers may have had on high fuel prices.
Louisiana bills seek funds to complete I-49 in state The Louisiana House has approved a pair of bills that would supply funds to complete the state's portion of Interstate 49. A separate bill also would dedicate revenue for the project.
Chicago photographer charged in Mexico-based fake ID scheme Federal authorities have charged another alleged member of a Chicago cell of a Mexico-based criminal organization they say made $2 million to $3 million annually by producing fake IDs.
Miami tops ‘road rage' list For the second straight year, Miami drivers have earned their city the title of “road rage capital” of the nation.
Driver distraction bills signed into law in Washington state Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed two bills into law that are intended to limit driver distractions. Another new law increases the testing fee for commercial driver's licenses.
Rare EPA public hearing in California considers emissions waiver request The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing Wednesday to consider whether to grant California a waiver for the Federal Clean Air Act. The waiver would allow that state to implement tougher emissions rules.
Bill to clean up diesel engines passes Oregon House The Oregon House unanimously approved a bill that is intended to clean up old diesel engines in the state. It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
Biodiesel producers support bill to define renewable diesel Stakeholders in the biodiesel industry are rejoicing now that a bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to protect biodiesel producers from losing out to big oil. But the battle over federal tax credits is not over yet.
Louisiana bills would aid highway funding A pair of measures in the Louisiana Senate are intended to route more money to roadways in the state to help pay for a $14 billion backlog of needed improvements.
Tonnage down, despite increase in consumer confidence The total number of tons of freight moved by truck was down in April by a little more than 2 percent compared to March, according to a monthly survey by the American Trucking Association.
