The Top 13 Trucking Stories of 2013, Part 3
As we look back at 2013, here's the third installment in our annual look at the top news stories of the year. Our list was compiled on the basis of popularity on our website, Truckinginfo.com, as well as our editors' opinions on which stories have the most impact on the trucking industry:
As we look back at 2013, here's the third installment in our annual look at the top news stories of the year. Our list was compiled on the basis of popularity on our website, Truckinginfo.com, as well as our editors' opinions on which stories have the most impact on the trucking industry:
6. Mexican truck program closer to reality
July 26 -- In July, a court upheld the Obama administration’s pilot program for long-distance trucking across the U.S.-Mexico border. Cross-border trucking was called for in the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994. The Supreme Court will decide January 10 whether or not to hear a petition from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association to overturn that ruling. Read more.
5. New transportation secretary named
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in January he was steeping down as Secretary of Transportation. Over the summer, Anthony Foxx was chosen as his replacement, and is one of the youngest cabinet officers in history.
Jan. 30 – LaHood Leaves a Safety Legacy,
June 27 – Foxx Confirmed as Transportation Secretary
4. President’s plan looks beyond 2018 emissions
June 25 – In a speech calling for tougher emissions for coal-fired power plants, President Obama also laid out what he wants when it comes to emissions from heavy trucks. The EPA is expected to issue draft regulations sometime in 2014. Read more.
More Safety & Compliance
FDA Eases Path for Oral-Fluid Testing
Federal actions could advance oral-fluid drug testing for truck drivers, but lab certification delays and marijuana rescheduling questions remain.
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Kodiak Lines Up Fleets for Driverless Trucking
An agreement for 75 trucks, a new Texas freight lane, and progress on safety validation move Kodiak closer to its planned driverless highway launch.
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More Trailer Data Through the Same Seven-Way [Video]
Can trucking’s standard seven-way connector handle more cameras and trailer data? Grote’s Adam Slade shows HDT how the company is using new technology with its 4See trailer system, not only to add a new backup camera but also to expand other capabilities — without adding another connection.
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PrePass Intelligence Mines Fleet Bypass, Toll and Safety Data
PrePass Intelligence helps fleets measure bypass savings, flag potential toll overcharges, and spot suspicious transactions by combining data from separate systems.
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Fatal Crash Exposes Toll Plaza Risks
An NTSB investigation found that last-minute lane changes and large speed differences at an Ohio toll plaza created a hazard the truck driver couldn't avoid in time.
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When Language Stops the Truck: The Return of ELP Out-of-Service Orders
English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers aren’t new, but renewed out-of-service enforcement has raised the stakes. Here’s what carriers need to know before a driver reaches a roadside inspection.
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A Camera Isn't a Safety Program. Here's What Brokers Are Screening for Now
Footage alone may not be enough to pass broker vetting processes. Here's what counts as a defensible safety program now.
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Marijuana and Trucking’s Drug-Testing Dilemma
Marijuana is getting stronger, laws are changing, and drug tests still can’t reliably establish impairment. What does that mean for truck drivers and the fleets that employ them?
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PrePass, Kodiak Connect Driverless Trucks to Roadside Enforcement
The system will allow enforcement agencies to verify Enhanced Inspection information and decide whether Kodiak’s autonomous trucks can bypass roadside screening sites.
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From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers
After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.
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