12/21/2011  Trends to Watch in 2012: Washington Outlook
By Oliver B. Patton, Washington Editor

High stakes and a lot of uncertainty - that's the outlook for the trucking industry in Washington in 2012.

It is possible that Congress will reauthorize the national transportation program, now two years overdue and counting, but the odds are daunting.

The new hours of service rule probably will be published early in the year. But unless the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration performs a miracle, the rule will lead to yet another round of litigation and continued uncertainty.

In addition, there are a host of regulatory initiatives pending, from electronic onboard recorders to a new safety fitness rule under the CSA program, which will affect carrier planning and operations.....

12/15/2011  Technology, CSA and Driver Qualification
By TruckingInfo Staff

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) enforcement program has prompted many fleets to concentrate more on their recruiting and hiring processes. Technology is stepping up to help.

"Driver qualification used to just be a process, but has become a leading thing," says Christian Schenk, vice president product marketing for Xata. Fleets are now looking at private sources of information outside what you get from the DOT or DMV on a specific driver.

For instance, TMW recently announced DriverManagement, a Web-based program that automates much of the driver recruitment and hiring process and integrates with TMW's enterprise transportation systems and document management. The system, which is customizable for each fleet's processes, prompts the recruiter at each step through the recruiting, validation, hiring and onboarding process. ....

12/9/2011  A Rare Glimpse of Bipartisanship on Highway Bill
By Oliver B. Patton, Washington Editor

In an unusual display of bipartisanship, a large group of House members from both parties pledged to work with President Obama on a six-year highway reauthorization bill. Sixty-two Democrats and 49 Republicans signed a letter asking Obama to support a six-year, fully funded bill.

The group, led by Republicans Aaron Schock, Ill., and Patrick Meehan, Pa., and Democrats Jim Cooper, Tenn., and John Carney, Del., does not have an answer to the critical question of how to pay for the measure, but did say "We stand willing to work with your administration on a variety of funding options."

The letter came as progress on the highway measure slowed in the House.

More delays

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, had planned to introduce a bill this month but last week said he will not, after all. There is not enough time for the full House to consider the measure, he said, adding that action is not likely until early to mid February.....

10/25/2011  Friday Deadline Looms for FMCSA to Post Hours of Service Rule
By Truckinginfo Staff

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration faces a deadline of this Friday to publish its final hours of service revised rule, but it is looking increasingly doubtful the agency will be able to meet the deadline.

The rule is scheduled to be published Oct. 28, but as of last night it still had not been sent from the Department of Transportation to the White House Office of Management and Budget, which must clear it before it can be published.

While it can take as long as 60 to 90 days for OMB to review a rulemaking and make recommendations for changes, sources at DOT have said, off the record, that the OMB has agreed to "fast track" the rule, and that the agency has been working closely with the White House during the rewrite.

Dave Osiecki, senior vice president at American Trucking Associations, met with OMB officials about the rule in early October, and reported that the meeting went well. "They listened, and they asked very good questions," he said. "Only time will tell whether we made an effective case."....

10/25/2011  Mica on Reauthorization, Hours of Service
By Oliver B. Patton, Washington Editor

Republican leaders in the House have not yet found the money for a fully funded six-year highway program, but they are committed to doing so, said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

In a press briefing earlier this week, Mica also said GOP leaders view the highway measure as their version of a jobs bill.

"The highway bill will be the core of not just the Republican but the congressional jobs effort," he said. "We can put people to work long-term, and rebuild the country's infrastructure."

On another matter of major importance to the trucking industry, Mica said he is not ready to say how he will proceed if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issues a final hours of service rule that resembles the rule it proposed.....