The IIC Blog

The declining state of roads and bridges, and burgeoning congestion is becoming more difficult to ignore, and several state legislatures are now openly discussing the likelihood of hiking fuel taxes. In Pennsylvania last week, House Democratic leaders called for transportation infrastructure to be a 2012 legislative priority, even if Pennsylvania drivers must pay more at …

by Greg Johnson, Staff Reporter, Transport Topics Now that a ban on handheld phone use by truckers has taken effect, attention has shifted to a possible final rule on electronic onboard recorders. “Savvy carriers aren’t waiting for an EOBR rule to be mandated,” said Monica Truelsch, director of marketing for TMW Systems Inc., a Beachwood, …

By Claudia Cowan, FoxNews.com For the first time, the federal government is regulating big-rigs, RV’s, and tractor-trailers in much the same way it’s held car makers to rigorous fuel efficiency standards for decades. But a group of California truckers contends the regulations will drive them right out of business — and has filed suit to block them. The Environmental …

by Bill Mongelluzzo, Associate Editor, JOC.com Ports become first in nation to have fleet comprised totally of 2007 or newer trucks. The Los Angeles-Long Beach’s penalty for the operation of older trucks expired Sunday, as the ports became the first in the nation to have a fleet comprised totally of 2007 or newer trucks. Emissions …

by Sean Kilcarr, Senior Editor, FleetOwner.com A new Trucking Trends survey inaugurated in 2011 revealed that many carriers believe there’s little chance to attain rate increases in 2012 and that making a profit is only going to get tougher. However, in a surprise twist, many carriers feel the regulatory hurdles posed by hours-of-service (HOS) reform efforts and the Federal Motor …

by David Cullen, Executive Editor, FleetOwner.com That the general economy is picking up the pace is sharply  reflected in new stats showing favorable conditions for motor carriers and  trucking stocks as well as a new report showing increased manufacturing  activity. For starters, FTR  Associates’Trucking Conditions Index, as reported in the research firm’s  January Trucking Update, increased …

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American neighbors Canada and Mexico was 12 percent higher in October 2011 than in October 2010, totaling $79 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with the United States’ …

by David A. Lieb, The Associated Press Stuck in a financial pothole, Missouri’s highway department has been selling equipment and eliminating employees to scrounge up enough money to repair its roads. Unless it also changes state law, it could lose tens of millions of federal highway dollars as a penalty for not adopting new safety …

by Deborah Lockridge, Editor in Chief, TruckingInfo.com A recent survey by GE Capital of mid-market chief financial officers showed that transportation CFOs, while less optimistic about the U.S. economy and the global economy than their counterparts, are one of the more optimistic groups of CFOs when it comes to the state of their own industry. …

The environment for truckers remains modestly favorable with decent growth, capacity and pricing conditions as we enter 2012 — but a severe capacity shortage that could significantly affect rates is less likely, thanks to a delay in new driver regulations, according to transportation forecasting firm FTR. FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index, as reported in the January …