Trucking News - March 2005
Our news is provided as a courtesy Of OOIDA / Land Line Magazine
Used with permission. Unauthorized Use or Duplication Is Prohibited
Used with permission. Unauthorized Use or Duplication Is Prohibited
Hawaii bill would restrict talking while driving
03/01/2005 - 8:04:38 pm - A proposal in the Hawaii House of Representatives would require drivers to keep their hands off the phone. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Joe Souki, D-Maalaea, ...
Texas House puts brakes on red-light cameras
03/01/2005 - 8:06:03 pm - The Texas House has voted to block all city governments in the state from using cameras to nab red-light runners. The bill could create a barrier for several cities in the ...
Trucking company owner gets prison time for bribery charge
03/01/2005 - 8:08:27 pm - A 29-year-old Chicago-area millionaire has been sentenced to prison in a bribery case linked to Illinois’ infamous Operation Safe Road investigation. The defendant ...
Roads budget gets OK in Virginia
03/01/2005 - 8:09:49 pm - The Virginia General Assembly adjourned its 2005 session Feb. 27 after approving the largest increase in spending on transportation in two decades. After a week of ...
Iowa speeds could get boost
03/01/2005 - 8:11:30 pm - An Iowa House panel has approved a bill that would permit drivers to legally drive 70 mph on rural interstate highways in the state. But there could be a price to pay ...
Increased enforcement, legislative effort take aim at truckers on U.S. 41
03/01/2005 - 8:16:34 pm - Truckers north of Chicago have become targets as Illinois officials take actions intended to cut big rig traffic on U.S. 41. A number of truckers have diverted onto ...
New Ohio law adds to cellular 9-1-1 capabilities
03/01/2005 - 8:18:00 pm - Gov. Bob Taft recently signed legislation that would require cell phone customers in Ohio to pay an additional fee for enhanced 9-1-1 services. The new law will add ...
Wisconsin bill requires headlight use in bad weather
03/01/2005 - 8:18:52 pm - A practice that is second nature to most professional drivers and other motorists is under review in the Wisconsin Legislature. Legislation in the Assembly ...
Kentucky bill lets more trucks exceed weight limit
03/01/2005 - 8:20:25 pm - The Kentucky House approved a bill Feb. 22 that would allow more trucks to exceed the 40-ton weight limit on roads in the state. Only coal trucks with permits now ...
Arizona lawmaker pursues higher speeds
03/01/2005 - 8:22:33 pm - Majority rules could soon determine the speed drivers in Arizona can travel on state roads and freeways. A proposal approved Feb. 22 by the Senate Transportation ...
Two bills target engine brakes in Illinois; hearings set for Tuesday
03/01/2005 - 8:24:51 pm - Illinois lawmakers are pushing two separate proposals that would allow restrictions on the use of engine brakes in the state. The two bills – SB534 in the Senate ...
Diesel jumps, oil on rise
03/01/2005 - 8:26:27 pm - The national average price-per-gallon for diesel fuel ballooned Monday, Feb. 28, to $2.118 from last week’s average of $2.02, the Department of Energy reported. It ...
Lawmakers focus on cell phones despite less than clear safety threat
03/02/2005 - 10:02:27 pm - Around the country, cell phones are being treated as a major safety issue, with state legislatures debating whether to ban drivers from using them, even though less than one ...
Wyoming governor approves multilane highway effort
03/02/2005 - 10:11:10 pm - Gov. Dave Freudenthal signed a scaled back version of legislation Feb. 25 that will accelerate funding for multilane highway projects in Wyoming. The new law, ...
Tougher insurance, license bill gets initial OK in Arizona Senate
03/02/2005 - 10:12:46 pm - Arizona senators have approved a bill to crack down on illegal motorists who cause crashes in the state. The Senate tentatively approved an effort on Feb. 24 ...
California looks to reduce emissions by ports, railroads
03/02/2005 - 10:14:27 pm - The California Air Resources Board is taking a hard look at pollution caused by the state’s ports and railroads, the agency announced recently. Part of the focus on ...
New York stops revoking licenses – again – for a while
03/02/2005 - 10:15:41 pm - For now, at least, New York may be through taking away the driver’s licenses of people as part of a recent crackdown. The on-again, off-again suspensions arose out ...
Bill to raise speed limits in Indiana advances
03/02/2005 - 10:17:39 pm - The Indiana Senate has approved a bill that would increase the speed limit on certain non-interstate highways. The bill would maintain the state’s 5-mph speed differential for ...
Workers’ comp bill debated in Missouri House
03/02/2005 - 10:19:34 pm - The Missouri House on Wednesday, March 2, took up a bill to overhaul the state’s workers’ compensation system. During floor debate, representatives approved an ...
HOS comment period drawing to a close
03/02/2005 - 10:23:39 pm - Despite attempts by a couple of special interest groups to extend the HOS comment period, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is sticking with its March 10 ...
Free credit reports now available in 12 more states
03/02/2005 - 10:28:10 pm - Starting this week, residents of 12 central states will be able to receive a free copy of their credit report, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Those ...
OOIDA board member shares quilting tips on TV
03/07/2005 - 8:23:43 am - Sue Lynch, an alternate member of the OOIDA Board of Directors, will be featured Friday morning, March 4, on the Home & Garden Television network. An avid quilter, ...
Illinois bill would expand radar-jamming ban to all vehicles
03/07/2005 - 8:24:53 am - A ban on radar-jamming devices in trucks would be extended to all motor vehicles under a bill now being considered in Illinois. The bill, SB1221, would also block ...
South Carolina advances mandatory seat-belt bill
03/07/2005 - 8:26:39 am - A South Carolina House panel has OK’d a bill to permit police to pull over drivers who are not wearing their seat belts. The House Education and Public Works ...
XM to raise subscription rate 30 percent
03/07/2005 - 8:28:28 am - Starting April 2, XM Satellite Radio subscribers will pay 30 percent more per month for the service – but they will also get more for their money. XM recently ...
Montana bill would prohibit unmarked cars from running traffic checks
03/07/2005 - 8:30:23 am - The Montana House has tentatively approved a measure to prohibit law-enforcement officers from running routine traffic checks while in unmarked cars. The bill ...
Proposal could bring tolls to I-75 in southwest Florida
03/07/2005 - 8:31:35 am - The Florida House Transportation Committee has unanimously approved a bill to create an expressway authority with the power to add toll lanes to Interstate 75 in the ...
Highway and transit funding bill approved in committee
03/07/2005 - 8:34:58 am - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the $284 billion highway and transit funding bill – formally titled “The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for ...
They got ‘em in Wyoming truck stops
03/07/2005 - 8:37:55 am - If you’ve ever lingered in a truck stop west of the Colorado border, you’ve seen one. At first, it looks like a bunny – that is until you see the antlers ...
Michigan lawmakers seek public comments on road plan
03/07/2005 - 8:41:22 am - Michigan lawmakers are taking the state’s five-year transportation plan to the streets in hopes of getting feedback from residents and community leaders. House ...
Cell phone restriction rejected by Arkansas Senate
03/07/2005 - 8:43:42 am - The Arkansas Senate rejected a bill Feb. 28 to require drivers in the state to keep their hands off their phones. Senators voted 11-6 against the bill – 18 votes ...
‘Flex lane’ study OK’d by Georgia Senate committee
03/07/2005 - 8:45:28 am - A Georgia Senate panel has advanced a bill to add “flex auto lanes” to congested highways in the state. The Senate Transportation Committee voted on Feb. 24 to pass ...
Indiana House kills higher speeds bill – but issue still alive
03/07/2005 - 8:49:57 am - An Indiana House bill to increase the speed limit on the Indiana Toll Road has died. However, another effort could still result in higher speeds on the roadway ...
Bush nominates acting head of EPA to lead agency full-time
03/07/2005 - 8:51:22 am - If approved by the Senate, Stephen Johnson would be the “first professional scientist” to head the Environmental Protection Agency. President Bush made the ...
New CVSA criteria would put drivers who can’t speak English out of service
03/07/2005 - 8:54:40 am - A new addition to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Out-of-Service Criteria would allow enforcement officers to place truck drivers out of service if they were unable to ...
House committee begins work to ease the way for diabetic truckers
03/07/2005 - 9:00:38 am - Diabetes may no longer be the roadblock it once was for over-the-road truckers thanks to a move by the Transportation Committee of the U.S. House. The committee ...
Missouri House passes workers` comp bill; Senate balks at revisions
03/07/2005 - 9:07:03 am - Truckers upset by provisions detrimental to drivers Legislators in the Missouri House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday, March 2, to overhaul the ...
Paul K. Young Memorial championship roster full
03/08/2005 - 4:02:28 pm - The first Stars and Stripes truck show event of 2005 has become so popular that its roster of competitors is full and there is already a waiting list of truckers trying to get ...
FAST update planned for MATS
03/08/2005 - 4:03:20 pm - Do you truck into or out of Canada? Truckers are invited to attend a seminar March 31 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY, to learn about a program that can ...
Connecticut bill bans traffic-signal changers
03/08/2005 - 4:04:26 pm - An effort in the Connecticut House would outlaw the use of devices that can change some traffic signals from red to green. A traffic-light changer is designed to ...
Bill to divert road money in Indiana stalls
03/08/2005 - 4:05:43 pm - An Indiana House bill that sought to funnel about $3 million of state road-repair money from urban areas to rural counties has died. House lawmakers failed to ...
DL equipment stolen from Nevada DMV office
03/08/2005 - 4:07:03 pm - Equipment used to produce Nevada driver’s licenses is in the hands of thieves after a vehicle burst through the rear window of a state DMV office in North Las Vegas, the ...
CDL holders could face suspensions after fatal wrecks in Illinois
03/08/2005 - 4:08:10 pm - A bill in Illinois would suspend the CDLs of drivers involved in certain fatal accidents. The bill, SB2034, calls for a six-month CDL suspension for any commercial ...
Kentucky Senate OKs permanent penny increase in fuel tax
03/08/2005 - 4:09:10 pm - The Kentucky Senate voted unanimously Feb. 28 to make permanent a 1-cent increase in the fuel tax that was triggered automatically last summer when fuel prices skyrocketed ...
Lane restriction bill awaits Missouri Senate vote
03/08/2005 - 4:13:01 pm - The Missouri Senate is expected to vote this week on a bill to ban large trucks from driving in the far left lane on most urban highways and interstates in the state ...
Bill would allow California port truckers to organize
03/08/2005 - 4:14:02 pm - Owner-operators whose trucks service ports in California could gain the right to collectively bargain under a bill now before the state’s Legislature. That measure, ...
OOIDA: New language in Boozman amendment key to getting HOS right
03/08/2005 - 4:19:56 pm - During this week`s House debate on the highway bill, Rep. John Boozman of Rogers, AR, will offer an amendment that will allow truck drivers to take up to two hours of breaks ...
Stupid? Don’t go to Arizona
03/08/2005 - 4:55:49 pm - There’re laws against speeding, and laws against running red lights. We all expect things like that. But in Arizona, motorists now find themselves receiving something not ...
No phones for permit holders under this Illinois bill
03/08/2005 - 4:56:36 pm - Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would prevent teens with driving permits from using wireless phones while behind the wheel. The bill, HB21, was ...
OOIDA member, wife start trucking benefit for St. Jude’s Hospital
03/08/2005 - 4:58:42 pm - An OOIDA member and his wife are organizing a truck convoy to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The event, called the Convoy for St. Jude, is scheduled for 8 ...
Tougher seat-belt law dropped in North Dakota
03/08/2005 - 4:59:53 pm - The North Dakota Senate has rejected a bill that would permit police to pull over drivers who are not wearing their seat belts. Senators voted 36-8 on Feb. 14 to ...
Leadfoots would get a new label under Illinois proposal
03/08/2005 - 5:00:49 pm - A hearing is scheduled March 8 on a bill that would make speeding the only evidence needed to prove a charge of reckless driving in Illinois. The bill, HB773, would ...
Iowa House OKs transportation bill
03/08/2005 - 5:01:57 pm - After a lengthy debate, the Iowa House approved a transportation-funding bill March 2 that will spend nearly $300 million for roads, railways and airports in the state ...
Bill would expand use of HOT lanes in California
03/08/2005 - 5:02:49 pm - The California General Assembly is considering a bill that would expand the use of high-occupancy toll lanes in the southern part of the state. AB189, introduced by ...
Land of Lincoln considers tougher stance on speeders
03/08/2005 - 5:03:41 pm - Illinois is trying to toughen up one of its highway safety laws with a new bill that would increase penalties for some offenses if they were committed by a person who was also ...
Arkansas enacts new CDL standards
03/08/2005 - 5:05:40 pm - With the threat of losing millions in federal highway money, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has signed a bill into law to bring the state into line with recently enacted federal ...
Connecticut proposals take aim at trucking industry
03/08/2005 - 5:10:12 pm - A number of proposals in the Connecticut General Assembly are intended to improve safety on highways but may make truckers feel a bit unwelcome in the state. The ...
Virginia opts against stricter open-container provision
03/10/2005 - 11:13:32 pm - An effort in the Virginia House to toughen the state’s open container law has failed passage. Prior to the close of the session, the House Militia, Police and ...
Illegal immigrants lose Utah driver licenses, but may still drive
03/10/2005 - 11:15:00 pm - Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman on March 8 signed a bill into law to take driver’s licenses away from undocumented immigrants and issue them a driving “privilege” card instead ...
Vehicle insurance bills closer to law in Mississippi
03/10/2005 - 11:17:17 pm - The Mississippi Senate voted on March 8 to approve a bill intended to boost enforcement of motor vehicle insurance laws by giving cities a cut of fines collected for ...
Indiana Senate advances red-light camera effort
03/10/2005 - 11:18:48 pm - A bill that would allow towns in Indiana to place cameras at intersections to catch red-light runners passed the Senate March 2. Sponsored by Sen. Ryan Mishler, ...
Kennedy amendment fails
03/10/2005 - 11:19:57 pm - U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy`s vision to ease traffic with new toll lanes that would ultimately pay for themselves failed to gain the support of the U.S. House of Representatives. ...
Iowa bill would ban traffic-signal changers
03/14/2005 - 10:31:08 am - If an Iowa lawmaker gets his way, devices that can change some traffic signals from red to green would be outlawed. A traffic-light changer is designed to allow ...
West Virginia bill would strengthen seat-belt law
03/14/2005 - 10:32:41 am - Drivers caught not wearing their seat belts could be pulled over under legislation in the West Virginia House. Currently, police in the state can issue seat-belt ...
More than 10,000 Webasto coolant heaters recalled
03/14/2005 - 10:33:32 am - Truckers running the Webasto DBW 2010 coolant heater may have a unit that is subject to a recent recall announced by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration ...
More than 10,000 Webasto coolant heaters recalled
03/14/2005 - 10:36:57 am - Truckers running the Webasto DBW 2010 coolant heater may have a unit that is subject to a recent recall announced by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration ...
Left-lane restrictions advance in South Carolina
03/14/2005 - 10:38:44 am - The South Carolina Senate approved a bill March 9 intended to combat aggressive driving on interstates in the state. It has been forwarded to the House for further ...
Battle shaping up over official freight routes in Oregon
03/14/2005 - 10:52:37 am - Local officials in Oregon are fighting an effort that would make U.S. 101 a state-designated freight route, which would result in increased use of the road by trucks ...
Effort would direct funds to Oklahoma roads, bridges
03/14/2005 - 10:55:32 am - A five-year transportation plan to fund much-needed road and bridge work in Oklahoma without raising taxes has been approved by a state legislative panel. The House ...
OOIDA member nominated for Goodyear Highway Hero award
03/14/2005 - 10:59:33 am - Four truck drivers, among them an OOIDA member, have been selected as finalists for the Goodyear North America Highway Hero Award, a trucking industry award for heroism. ...
House OKs highway bill at $284 billion level
03/14/2005 - 11:00:54 am - Having cleared the U.S. House Thursday by a staggering vote of 417-9, the highway bill is headed to the Senate for debate. The Senate’s Environment and Public Works ...
California lawmakers want to get tough on teen drivers
03/14/2005 - 11:17:53 am - Three bills in California would tighten up the rules for teen drivers in an effort to make the state’s roads safer. The measures, all introduced in late February, ...
Traffic camera bill passes from South Carolina Senate panel
03/14/2005 - 11:19:06 am - South Carolina’s largest cities would be given the green light to install cameras at traffic lights to catch those running red lights under a bill approved by the Senate ...
Idaho governor introduces his highway effort
03/14/2005 - 11:20:38 am - Almost two months after pitching the $1.6 billion proposal to Idaho state lawmakers, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has introduced a bill that would authorize some of the most expensive ...
Measure to let immigrants apply for Iowa licenses dies
03/14/2005 - 11:22:05 am - Iowa’s Senate Transportation Committee has snuffed out a last-gasp effort to make driver’s licenses available to immigrants who are not authorized to live or work in the ...
Kentucky House rejects bill for heavier trucks
03/14/2005 - 11:23:47 am - Two weeks after easily passing the Kentucky House, a bill that would have allowed more trucks to exceed the 40-ton weight limit on roads in the state was rejected by the ...
Key compromise in highway bill addresses equity in state funding
03/14/2005 - 11:25:59 am - Even though President Bush is threatening a veto of the highway bill, the U.S. House overwhelming supported the $284 billion measure this week, partly because of a provision ...
OOIDA vs. DAC: Court rules that motor carriers are ‘consumer reporting agencies’
03/14/2005 - 11:28:23 am - On March 7 the Federal District Court in Denver, CO, ruled that when submitting termination record forms to DAC, motor carriers are “consumer reporting agencies” under the ...
Men’s Health Magazine features truckers’ advice to four-wheelers
03/15/2005 - 2:25:31 pm - Plenty of truckers complain about how four-wheelers drive. But this month, 350 of your fellow truck drivers took it a step further, telling the magazine Men’s Health the ...
Effort would force drivers in Connecticut to hang up at the pump
03/15/2005 - 2:27:52 pm - If a Connecticut state lawmaker has her way, drivers chatting on their cell phones while pumping fuel could face a $250 fine. Sen. Andrea Stillman, D-Waterford, ...
Truckers sue Canadian tax agency over per diem
03/15/2005 - 2:28:54 pm - A group of truckers and other traveling workers in Canada is suing that nation’s federal government, claiming that its tax policies on meal allowances discriminate against ...
South Dakota OKs new CDL standards
03/15/2005 - 2:30:06 pm - With the threat of losing millions in federal highway money, Gov. Mike Rounds has signed a bill into law to bring South Dakota into line with recently enacted federal ...
Bill would add 5-cent tax to many fuel sales in Arkansas
03/15/2005 - 2:31:55 pm - Truckers and other drivers in Arkansas would pay another nickel each time they use plastic to pay for fuel at the pump under legislation intended to help improve the state’s ...
Diesel continues surge, oil drops
03/15/2005 - 2:34:09 pm - The national average price-per-gallon for diesel fuel increased Monday, March 14, to $2.194 from last week’s average of $2.168, the Department of Energy reported ...
Texas seeks intermodal chassis inspection requirement
03/15/2005 - 2:35:59 pm - A Texas state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would shift the responsibility for container chassis from truck drivers to the ports that supply the chassis. The ...
Pennsylvania radio host puts spotlight on Knights of the Road
03/17/2005 - 1:39:28 am - Sheryl Youngblood, known over Pennsylvania’s airwaves as “Trucker Doc,” has launched a new program recognizing truckers’ acts of “random kindness.” The program is aptly called ...
Web site helps truckers find biodiesel outlets
03/17/2005 - 1:40:25 am - Truckers who want to fuel up in a more environmentally friendly way now have a way to find out where they can do just that. A Web site – biodiesel.org – has a list ...
OOIDA member Magers honored by Dart Transit
03/17/2005 - 1:41:21 am - Richard Magers, an OOIDA life member from Novinger, MO, is Dart Transit’s 2004 Independent Contractor of the Year. Magers, a 24-year Dart veteran, has two sons who ...
SuperRigs heads to Florida
03/17/2005 - 1:43:11 am - The 23rd annual Rotella SuperRigs Beauty Contest is scheduled for June 9-11 at the 75 Chrome Shop in Wildwood, FL. Last year, more than 90 contestants from the United States ...
Open container ban advances in Montana
03/17/2005 - 1:45:09 am - Montana’s attempt to outlaw drinking by motor vehicle passengers is closer to becoming law. House lawmakers have approved a bill that would ban alcohol consumption ...
North Carolina pursues harsher penalties for failure to ‘move over’
03/17/2005 - 1:47:41 am - A practice that is old hat to most truckers is going over like a lead balloon for drivers in North Carolina. In response, a bill before a state House judiciary ...
Cryptographer: Biometric readers far from foolproof
03/17/2005 - 1:49:16 am - Security companies and government agencies have been championing the new technology of biometrics as a sure-fire, secure way of identifying people for background checks and ...
Lower speeds approved for Tennessee’s Shelby County
03/17/2005 - 1:51:03 am - Heads up, drivers – by early summer the Tennessee Department of Transportation will reduce the speed limit for all vehicles traveling on urban interstates in Shelby County as ...
Engineer says he can’t say if Big Dig tunnels are safe
03/17/2005 - 1:52:27 am - An independent engineer says he is no longer able to assure that the tunnels making up Boston’s Big Dig are safe, media outlets reported March 15. Jack Lemley, the ...
Indiana idling proposal for cars draws four-wheelers ire
03/19/2005 - 11:59:20 am - Usually, when you hear about a ban on idling, it’s trucks getting the short end of the exhaust pipe. But in Indiana, car drivers are getting a taste of what more ...
Utah fails to approve stricter seat-belt law
03/19/2005 - 12:00:47 pm - A bill intended to permit police in Utah to pull over drivers who are not buckled up has died in a conference committee. The House approved the bill earlier but ...
Traffic camera bill ‘trash-canned’ in Alabama
03/19/2005 - 12:02:27 pm - An effort in the Alabama House to allow police to install cameras at traffic lights to catch those running red lights may be dead. The House Public Safety Committee ...
California proposal aims to help truckers get out of cities faster
03/19/2005 - 12:03:21 pm - California lawmakers are working on a resolution designed to help get trucks through the state’s metropolitan areas as quickly as possible. Designed as a pollution ...
Toll lanes planned for Florida superhighway
03/19/2005 - 12:04:29 pm - Florida plans to build high-occupancy toll lanes down Interstate 4 in the central part of the state, media outlets reported. The lanes would run along the highway ...
Illinois bill to give illegal immigrants driver’s licenses moves forward
03/19/2005 - 12:07:07 pm - A bill that would allow illegal immigrants in Illinois to obtain driver’s licenses has been approved by a committee and is awaiting preliminary approval on the full House ...
Price of crude oil hovers at near-record levels
03/19/2005 - 12:08:18 pm - The price of crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed for a second day above $56 a barrel, but short of yesterday’s record of $56.46. The $56.40 price ...
Paccar accepts Stonecipher`s resignation from board
03/19/2005 - 12:09:29 pm - Harry Stonecipher, dismissed earlier this month as the chief of Boeing Co. amidst allegations of misconduct, is officially off the board at Paccar. The Washington-based truck ...
Illinois biodiesel bill weakened, but gets House OK
03/19/2005 - 12:10:55 pm - Illinois lawmakers working on a proposal to promote the use of biodiesel have watered down their plan – but the less stringent version was quickly approved by the lower ...
Open container law diverts Tennessee highway funds
03/19/2005 - 12:12:30 pm - Tennessee is required to spend a chunk of its federal highway dollars on traffic safety because the state doesn’t have a ban on open containers of alcohol in vehicles ...
Colorado considers emergency-vehicle bill
03/19/2005 - 12:14:08 pm - A practice followed by professional truck drivers for decades would become law under an effort in the Colorado Legislature. The measure, unanimously approved by the ...
Tons of pot seized from tractor-trailer crossing into U.S. from Mexico
03/19/2005 - 12:15:45 pm - A tractor-trailer carrying more than 8,000 pounds of marijuana was stopped at California’s Otay Mesa border crossing earlier this month by officers of the U.S. Bureau of ...
Oil closes at $56.72; analysts say market wants to test $60 price
03/19/2005 - 12:18:58 pm - For the sixth week, crude oil prices increased, closing at $56.72 Friday, March 18, in trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude scheduled for delivery in ...
Trucking taking hit as diesel continues upward
03/19/2005 - 12:19:48 pm - The trucking industry continues to get slammed as diesel prices continue to climb. According to ProMiles, Washington was the state with the highest retail diesel prices on ...
Soldier killed in attack on mail convoy in Iraq
03/19/2005 - 12:21:08 pm - Rocky Payne, a member of the 497th Transportation Company based out of Fort Lewis, WA, was killed Wednesday, March 16, by an explosion targeting a mail convoy. The ...
Judge rules OOIDA suit against DAC may go forward
03/19/2005 - 12:21:23 pm - The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has obtained a ruling from a U.S. District Court in Denver that will allow its class action complaint against USIS ...
Teen cell-phone ban rejected in Virginia
03/23/2005 - 10:17:28 pm - Virginia teenagers can continue to chat on their cell phones while driving. Sen. Jay O’Brien, R-Clifton, withdrew his bill to ban cell phone use by drivers under ...
Illinois considers bill to authorize hazmat checks in state
03/23/2005 - 10:19:23 pm - Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would bring the state into compliance with the USA Patriot Act’s provisions on hazmat drivers. The bill, SB1825, ...
Smart signs debut on Maine roads
03/23/2005 - 10:20:41 pm - Truckers can get a glimpse of the next wave in highway sign technology on some highways in Maine. The Portland Press reported that the signs cannot only detect that ...
Bill would compel California ports to move trucks through in one hour
03/23/2005 - 10:22:14 pm - California lawmakers are continuing to chip away at ports that force trucks to wait and idle. The latest round was launched in February with the introduction of another bill ...
Missouri Senate approves lane restriction bill
03/23/2005 - 10:26:42 pm - The Missouri Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would ban large trucks from driving in the far left lane on most urban highways and interstates in the state. It ...
Section number corrected in fuel surcharge legislation
03/23/2005 - 10:32:21 pm - Truckers who are asking their U.S. senators to include a fuel surcharge provision in the Senate’s version of the highway bill should make note that the section number for the ...
Cost of diesel continues alarming climb, oil dips
03/23/2005 - 10:34:29 pm - Truckers continued to feel the pinch at the pump Monday, March 21, as diesel fuel prices continued to climb. It is the fifth straight week the national average price of diesel ...
Kentucky governor signs traffic-light changer bill
03/23/2005 - 10:35:59 pm - Gov. Ernie Fletcher has approved a bill that would outlaw the use of devices in Kentucky that can change some traffic signals from red to green from as far away as 1,500 feet ...
Illinois conducts highway safety summit
03/23/2005 - 10:37:10 pm - The state of Illinois is developing a plan to improve safety on the state’s highways that could lead to changes in state policy, including enforcement. A group of ...
Oklahoma House OKs effort to direct funds to roads, bridges
03/23/2005 - 10:38:40 pm - A transportation bill that would fund much-needed road and bridgework in Oklahoma without raising taxes has passed the state House. House lawmakers voted 95-5 ...
Iowa House panel advances bill to boost speeds, fines
03/23/2005 - 10:40:24 pm - A bill in Iowa that would permit drivers to legally drive 70 mph on rural interstates in the state is one step away from going to the full House for a vote. But there could be ...
Congressman wants more restrictions on DC hazmat shipments
03/23/2005 - 10:43:51 pm - A Massachusetts congressman has taken up the cause of District of Columbia officials who are trying to ban hazmat shipments near the U.S. Capitol building. Rep. Ed ...
Rigs robbed
03/23/2005 - 10:45:05 pm - Iowa has historically ranked high on the list of the safest states in which to live. But the state may be far from the top 10 on truckers’ lists of safe places to park ...
Missouri workers` comp bill moves to governor; truckers upset by provisions detrimental to drivers
03/23/2005 - 10:49:52 pm - Missouri lawmakers have approved legislation to make it harder to file workers’ compensation claims in the state. Truck drivers are among those adversely affected ...
Owner-operators’ bottom lines sinking as diesel costs soar
03/23/2005 - 10:52:44 pm - With diesel prices hitting all-time highs and industry analysts predicting the trend to continue, owner-operators are facing one of the toughest challenges in decades to their ...
Nebraska wants counties to take over state’s last gravel highways
03/25/2005 - 8:09:55 am - Truckers pay taxes all the time to keep highways across America paved and in good repair. And they generally assume that their money is paying for the highways and interstates ...
Montana bill looks out for teen drivers
03/25/2005 - 8:11:15 am - If a Montana lawmaker gets her way, this year, the state will end its distinction of being the only state without special driver’s license restrictions for teen drivers ...
Bill seeks to streamline oversize permitting in Illinois
03/25/2005 - 8:12:19 am - A bill now making its way through the Illinois General Assembly would streamline the paperwork process for overweight or oversize truck permits in the state. The ...
Fuel tax increase advances in Texas
03/25/2005 - 8:14:01 am - A Texas House panel has unanimously approved a measure that would have drivers digging a little deeper into their pockets to fill up their tanks. The House Ways and ...
Truck driver convicted on some charges in smuggling deaths; avoids death penalty
03/25/2005 - 8:16:00 am - Truck driver Tyrone Williams was convicted by a jury today, March 23, in the smuggling deaths of 19 illegal immigrants in 2003, media outlets reported. Williams, 34 ...
Teen driving limits OK’d in Wyoming
03/25/2005 - 8:17:37 am - Gov. Dave Freudenthal recently signed legislation to create a graduated driver’s license for Wyoming teens. The new law brings the state in line with 48 other ...
Maine police oppose higher seat-belt fines
03/25/2005 - 8:18:49 am - Maine’s police chiefs have done an about face on Gov. John Baldacci’s proposal to boost the fines for failure to buckle up. Two months ago, The Maine Chiefs of ...
Nation’s capital to place ‘virtual weigh station’ in interstate pavement
03/25/2005 - 8:20:42 am - Starting soon, truckers headed into the nation’s capital could have their rig’s weight checked – even if they don’t pull into a weigh station. The District of ...
Texas bill would allow idling
03/25/2005 - 8:22:09 am - A bill before a Texas House panel would allow truckers to idle their rigs for government-mandated rest periods. The House Environmental Regulation Committee is ...
Tennessee eyes lane restrictions for trucks
03/25/2005 - 8:23:34 am - Legislation before the Tennessee General Assembly would prohibit big rigs from driving in certain lanes on certain roadways. Sponsored by Rep. J. Chris Newton, ...
Oil refinery blast reignites higher crude oil prices
03/25/2005 - 8:25:40 am - After a one-day break from near-record prices, the price of crude oil went up again after an explosion at British Petroleum’s refinery in Texas City, TX. After ...
Open container bill advances in Indiana
03/27/2005 - 12:43:16 am - An Indiana Senate panel has approved legislation that would hold drivers responsible for open containers of alcohol found in the passenger sections of vehicles traveling ...
Texas lawmakers pursue limits on massive corridor project
03/27/2005 - 12:45:35 am - A group of Texas state lawmakers have introduced legislation they say would address some frequent criticisms of the Trans-Texas Corridor package approved during the 2003 ...
Alabama personal injury lawyers target trucks under guise of ‘safety campaign’
03/27/2005 - 12:50:18 am - An Alabama firm of personal injury lawyers has launched a toll-free hot line and Web site for motorists to report trucks they think are unsafe. The Web site is called ...
Teen driver cell phone ban moves forward in Illinois
03/29/2005 - 9:53:06 am - A bill designed to cut cell phone use by teens is a step closer to approval in Illinois Introduced by Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, the bill, SB210, would ...
Vote expected soon on Alabama county’s tag fee bill
03/29/2005 - 9:54:40 am - A bill in the Alabama House would levy an additional ad valorem tax on motor vehicles to improve transit in the county that includes Birmingham. The Jefferson ...
‘Pee bomb bill’ heads to Colorado governor
03/29/2005 - 9:57:43 am - Motorists littering highways in Colorado will soon likely have to visit an ATM instead of reaching into their pockets to pay the penalty. The House voted 55-9 on ...
Diesel prices continue upward, oil dips
03/29/2005 - 10:00:18 am - Prices at the pump are making truckers reach deeper and deeper into their pockets to stay out on the road. For the sixth straight week, the national average price of diesel ...
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03/01/2005 - 8:04:38 pm - A proposal in the Hawaii House of Representatives would require drivers to keep their hands off the phone. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Joe Souki, D-Maalaea, ...
Texas House puts brakes on red-light cameras
03/01/2005 - 8:06:03 pm - The Texas House has voted to block all city governments in the state from using cameras to nab red-light runners. The bill could create a barrier for several cities in the ...
Trucking company owner gets prison time for bribery charge
03/01/2005 - 8:08:27 pm - A 29-year-old Chicago-area millionaire has been sentenced to prison in a bribery case linked to Illinois’ infamous Operation Safe Road investigation. The defendant ...
Roads budget gets OK in Virginia
03/01/2005 - 8:09:49 pm - The Virginia General Assembly adjourned its 2005 session Feb. 27 after approving the largest increase in spending on transportation in two decades. After a week of ...
Iowa speeds could get boost
03/01/2005 - 8:11:30 pm - An Iowa House panel has approved a bill that would permit drivers to legally drive 70 mph on rural interstate highways in the state. But there could be a price to pay ...
Increased enforcement, legislative effort take aim at truckers on U.S. 41
03/01/2005 - 8:16:34 pm - Truckers north of Chicago have become targets as Illinois officials take actions intended to cut big rig traffic on U.S. 41. A number of truckers have diverted onto ...
New Ohio law adds to cellular 9-1-1 capabilities
03/01/2005 - 8:18:00 pm - Gov. Bob Taft recently signed legislation that would require cell phone customers in Ohio to pay an additional fee for enhanced 9-1-1 services. The new law will add ...
Wisconsin bill requires headlight use in bad weather
03/01/2005 - 8:18:52 pm - A practice that is second nature to most professional drivers and other motorists is under review in the Wisconsin Legislature. Legislation in the Assembly ...
Kentucky bill lets more trucks exceed weight limit
03/01/2005 - 8:20:25 pm - The Kentucky House approved a bill Feb. 22 that would allow more trucks to exceed the 40-ton weight limit on roads in the state. Only coal trucks with permits now ...
Arizona lawmaker pursues higher speeds
03/01/2005 - 8:22:33 pm - Majority rules could soon determine the speed drivers in Arizona can travel on state roads and freeways. A proposal approved Feb. 22 by the Senate Transportation ...
Two bills target engine brakes in Illinois; hearings set for Tuesday
03/01/2005 - 8:24:51 pm - Illinois lawmakers are pushing two separate proposals that would allow restrictions on the use of engine brakes in the state. The two bills – SB534 in the Senate ...
Diesel jumps, oil on rise
03/01/2005 - 8:26:27 pm - The national average price-per-gallon for diesel fuel ballooned Monday, Feb. 28, to $2.118 from last week’s average of $2.02, the Department of Energy reported. It ...
Lawmakers focus on cell phones despite less than clear safety threat
03/02/2005 - 10:02:27 pm - Around the country, cell phones are being treated as a major safety issue, with state legislatures debating whether to ban drivers from using them, even though less than one ...
Wyoming governor approves multilane highway effort
03/02/2005 - 10:11:10 pm - Gov. Dave Freudenthal signed a scaled back version of legislation Feb. 25 that will accelerate funding for multilane highway projects in Wyoming. The new law, ...
Tougher insurance, license bill gets initial OK in Arizona Senate
03/02/2005 - 10:12:46 pm - Arizona senators have approved a bill to crack down on illegal motorists who cause crashes in the state. The Senate tentatively approved an effort on Feb. 24 ...
California looks to reduce emissions by ports, railroads
03/02/2005 - 10:14:27 pm - The California Air Resources Board is taking a hard look at pollution caused by the state’s ports and railroads, the agency announced recently. Part of the focus on ...
New York stops revoking licenses – again – for a while
03/02/2005 - 10:15:41 pm - For now, at least, New York may be through taking away the driver’s licenses of people as part of a recent crackdown. The on-again, off-again suspensions arose out ...
Bill to raise speed limits in Indiana advances
03/02/2005 - 10:17:39 pm - The Indiana Senate has approved a bill that would increase the speed limit on certain non-interstate highways. The bill would maintain the state’s 5-mph speed differential for ...
Workers’ comp bill debated in Missouri House
03/02/2005 - 10:19:34 pm - The Missouri House on Wednesday, March 2, took up a bill to overhaul the state’s workers’ compensation system. During floor debate, representatives approved an ...
HOS comment period drawing to a close
03/02/2005 - 10:23:39 pm - Despite attempts by a couple of special interest groups to extend the HOS comment period, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is sticking with its March 10 ...
Free credit reports now available in 12 more states
03/02/2005 - 10:28:10 pm - Starting this week, residents of 12 central states will be able to receive a free copy of their credit report, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Those ...
OOIDA board member shares quilting tips on TV
03/07/2005 - 8:23:43 am - Sue Lynch, an alternate member of the OOIDA Board of Directors, will be featured Friday morning, March 4, on the Home & Garden Television network. An avid quilter, ...
Illinois bill would expand radar-jamming ban to all vehicles
03/07/2005 - 8:24:53 am - A ban on radar-jamming devices in trucks would be extended to all motor vehicles under a bill now being considered in Illinois. The bill, SB1221, would also block ...
South Carolina advances mandatory seat-belt bill
03/07/2005 - 8:26:39 am - A South Carolina House panel has OK’d a bill to permit police to pull over drivers who are not wearing their seat belts. The House Education and Public Works ...
XM to raise subscription rate 30 percent
03/07/2005 - 8:28:28 am - Starting April 2, XM Satellite Radio subscribers will pay 30 percent more per month for the service – but they will also get more for their money. XM recently ...
Montana bill would prohibit unmarked cars from running traffic checks
03/07/2005 - 8:30:23 am - The Montana House has tentatively approved a measure to prohibit law-enforcement officers from running routine traffic checks while in unmarked cars. The bill ...
Proposal could bring tolls to I-75 in southwest Florida
03/07/2005 - 8:31:35 am - The Florida House Transportation Committee has unanimously approved a bill to create an expressway authority with the power to add toll lanes to Interstate 75 in the ...
Highway and transit funding bill approved in committee
03/07/2005 - 8:34:58 am - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the $284 billion highway and transit funding bill – formally titled “The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for ...
They got ‘em in Wyoming truck stops
03/07/2005 - 8:37:55 am - If you’ve ever lingered in a truck stop west of the Colorado border, you’ve seen one. At first, it looks like a bunny – that is until you see the antlers ...
Michigan lawmakers seek public comments on road plan
03/07/2005 - 8:41:22 am - Michigan lawmakers are taking the state’s five-year transportation plan to the streets in hopes of getting feedback from residents and community leaders. House ...
Cell phone restriction rejected by Arkansas Senate
03/07/2005 - 8:43:42 am - The Arkansas Senate rejected a bill Feb. 28 to require drivers in the state to keep their hands off their phones. Senators voted 11-6 against the bill – 18 votes ...
‘Flex lane’ study OK’d by Georgia Senate committee
03/07/2005 - 8:45:28 am - A Georgia Senate panel has advanced a bill to add “flex auto lanes” to congested highways in the state. The Senate Transportation Committee voted on Feb. 24 to pass ...
Indiana House kills higher speeds bill – but issue still alive
03/07/2005 - 8:49:57 am - An Indiana House bill to increase the speed limit on the Indiana Toll Road has died. However, another effort could still result in higher speeds on the roadway ...
Bush nominates acting head of EPA to lead agency full-time
03/07/2005 - 8:51:22 am - If approved by the Senate, Stephen Johnson would be the “first professional scientist” to head the Environmental Protection Agency. President Bush made the ...
New CVSA criteria would put drivers who can’t speak English out of service
03/07/2005 - 8:54:40 am - A new addition to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Out-of-Service Criteria would allow enforcement officers to place truck drivers out of service if they were unable to ...
House committee begins work to ease the way for diabetic truckers
03/07/2005 - 9:00:38 am - Diabetes may no longer be the roadblock it once was for over-the-road truckers thanks to a move by the Transportation Committee of the U.S. House. The committee ...
Missouri House passes workers` comp bill; Senate balks at revisions
03/07/2005 - 9:07:03 am - Truckers upset by provisions detrimental to drivers Legislators in the Missouri House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday, March 2, to overhaul the ...
Paul K. Young Memorial championship roster full
03/08/2005 - 4:02:28 pm - The first Stars and Stripes truck show event of 2005 has become so popular that its roster of competitors is full and there is already a waiting list of truckers trying to get ...
FAST update planned for MATS
03/08/2005 - 4:03:20 pm - Do you truck into or out of Canada? Truckers are invited to attend a seminar March 31 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY, to learn about a program that can ...
Connecticut bill bans traffic-signal changers
03/08/2005 - 4:04:26 pm - An effort in the Connecticut House would outlaw the use of devices that can change some traffic signals from red to green. A traffic-light changer is designed to ...
Bill to divert road money in Indiana stalls
03/08/2005 - 4:05:43 pm - An Indiana House bill that sought to funnel about $3 million of state road-repair money from urban areas to rural counties has died. House lawmakers failed to ...
DL equipment stolen from Nevada DMV office
03/08/2005 - 4:07:03 pm - Equipment used to produce Nevada driver’s licenses is in the hands of thieves after a vehicle burst through the rear window of a state DMV office in North Las Vegas, the ...
CDL holders could face suspensions after fatal wrecks in Illinois
03/08/2005 - 4:08:10 pm - A bill in Illinois would suspend the CDLs of drivers involved in certain fatal accidents. The bill, SB2034, calls for a six-month CDL suspension for any commercial ...
Kentucky Senate OKs permanent penny increase in fuel tax
03/08/2005 - 4:09:10 pm - The Kentucky Senate voted unanimously Feb. 28 to make permanent a 1-cent increase in the fuel tax that was triggered automatically last summer when fuel prices skyrocketed ...
Lane restriction bill awaits Missouri Senate vote
03/08/2005 - 4:13:01 pm - The Missouri Senate is expected to vote this week on a bill to ban large trucks from driving in the far left lane on most urban highways and interstates in the state ...
Bill would allow California port truckers to organize
03/08/2005 - 4:14:02 pm - Owner-operators whose trucks service ports in California could gain the right to collectively bargain under a bill now before the state’s Legislature. That measure, ...
OOIDA: New language in Boozman amendment key to getting HOS right
03/08/2005 - 4:19:56 pm - During this week`s House debate on the highway bill, Rep. John Boozman of Rogers, AR, will offer an amendment that will allow truck drivers to take up to two hours of breaks ...
Stupid? Don’t go to Arizona
03/08/2005 - 4:55:49 pm - There’re laws against speeding, and laws against running red lights. We all expect things like that. But in Arizona, motorists now find themselves receiving something not ...
No phones for permit holders under this Illinois bill
03/08/2005 - 4:56:36 pm - Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would prevent teens with driving permits from using wireless phones while behind the wheel. The bill, HB21, was ...
OOIDA member, wife start trucking benefit for St. Jude’s Hospital
03/08/2005 - 4:58:42 pm - An OOIDA member and his wife are organizing a truck convoy to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The event, called the Convoy for St. Jude, is scheduled for 8 ...
Tougher seat-belt law dropped in North Dakota
03/08/2005 - 4:59:53 pm - The North Dakota Senate has rejected a bill that would permit police to pull over drivers who are not wearing their seat belts. Senators voted 36-8 on Feb. 14 to ...
Leadfoots would get a new label under Illinois proposal
03/08/2005 - 5:00:49 pm - A hearing is scheduled March 8 on a bill that would make speeding the only evidence needed to prove a charge of reckless driving in Illinois. The bill, HB773, would ...
Iowa House OKs transportation bill
03/08/2005 - 5:01:57 pm - After a lengthy debate, the Iowa House approved a transportation-funding bill March 2 that will spend nearly $300 million for roads, railways and airports in the state ...
Bill would expand use of HOT lanes in California
03/08/2005 - 5:02:49 pm - The California General Assembly is considering a bill that would expand the use of high-occupancy toll lanes in the southern part of the state. AB189, introduced by ...
Land of Lincoln considers tougher stance on speeders
03/08/2005 - 5:03:41 pm - Illinois is trying to toughen up one of its highway safety laws with a new bill that would increase penalties for some offenses if they were committed by a person who was also ...
Arkansas enacts new CDL standards
03/08/2005 - 5:05:40 pm - With the threat of losing millions in federal highway money, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has signed a bill into law to bring the state into line with recently enacted federal ...
Connecticut proposals take aim at trucking industry
03/08/2005 - 5:10:12 pm - A number of proposals in the Connecticut General Assembly are intended to improve safety on highways but may make truckers feel a bit unwelcome in the state. The ...
Virginia opts against stricter open-container provision
03/10/2005 - 11:13:32 pm - An effort in the Virginia House to toughen the state’s open container law has failed passage. Prior to the close of the session, the House Militia, Police and ...
Illegal immigrants lose Utah driver licenses, but may still drive
03/10/2005 - 11:15:00 pm - Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman on March 8 signed a bill into law to take driver’s licenses away from undocumented immigrants and issue them a driving “privilege” card instead ...
Vehicle insurance bills closer to law in Mississippi
03/10/2005 - 11:17:17 pm - The Mississippi Senate voted on March 8 to approve a bill intended to boost enforcement of motor vehicle insurance laws by giving cities a cut of fines collected for ...
Indiana Senate advances red-light camera effort
03/10/2005 - 11:18:48 pm - A bill that would allow towns in Indiana to place cameras at intersections to catch red-light runners passed the Senate March 2. Sponsored by Sen. Ryan Mishler, ...
Kennedy amendment fails
03/10/2005 - 11:19:57 pm - U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy`s vision to ease traffic with new toll lanes that would ultimately pay for themselves failed to gain the support of the U.S. House of Representatives. ...
Iowa bill would ban traffic-signal changers
03/14/2005 - 10:31:08 am - If an Iowa lawmaker gets his way, devices that can change some traffic signals from red to green would be outlawed. A traffic-light changer is designed to allow ...
West Virginia bill would strengthen seat-belt law
03/14/2005 - 10:32:41 am - Drivers caught not wearing their seat belts could be pulled over under legislation in the West Virginia House. Currently, police in the state can issue seat-belt ...
More than 10,000 Webasto coolant heaters recalled
03/14/2005 - 10:33:32 am - Truckers running the Webasto DBW 2010 coolant heater may have a unit that is subject to a recent recall announced by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration ...
More than 10,000 Webasto coolant heaters recalled
03/14/2005 - 10:36:57 am - Truckers running the Webasto DBW 2010 coolant heater may have a unit that is subject to a recent recall announced by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration ...
Left-lane restrictions advance in South Carolina
03/14/2005 - 10:38:44 am - The South Carolina Senate approved a bill March 9 intended to combat aggressive driving on interstates in the state. It has been forwarded to the House for further ...
Battle shaping up over official freight routes in Oregon
03/14/2005 - 10:52:37 am - Local officials in Oregon are fighting an effort that would make U.S. 101 a state-designated freight route, which would result in increased use of the road by trucks ...
Effort would direct funds to Oklahoma roads, bridges
03/14/2005 - 10:55:32 am - A five-year transportation plan to fund much-needed road and bridge work in Oklahoma without raising taxes has been approved by a state legislative panel. The House ...
OOIDA member nominated for Goodyear Highway Hero award
03/14/2005 - 10:59:33 am - Four truck drivers, among them an OOIDA member, have been selected as finalists for the Goodyear North America Highway Hero Award, a trucking industry award for heroism. ...
House OKs highway bill at $284 billion level
03/14/2005 - 11:00:54 am - Having cleared the U.S. House Thursday by a staggering vote of 417-9, the highway bill is headed to the Senate for debate. The Senate’s Environment and Public Works ...
California lawmakers want to get tough on teen drivers
03/14/2005 - 11:17:53 am - Three bills in California would tighten up the rules for teen drivers in an effort to make the state’s roads safer. The measures, all introduced in late February, ...
Traffic camera bill passes from South Carolina Senate panel
03/14/2005 - 11:19:06 am - South Carolina’s largest cities would be given the green light to install cameras at traffic lights to catch those running red lights under a bill approved by the Senate ...
Idaho governor introduces his highway effort
03/14/2005 - 11:20:38 am - Almost two months after pitching the $1.6 billion proposal to Idaho state lawmakers, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has introduced a bill that would authorize some of the most expensive ...
Measure to let immigrants apply for Iowa licenses dies
03/14/2005 - 11:22:05 am - Iowa’s Senate Transportation Committee has snuffed out a last-gasp effort to make driver’s licenses available to immigrants who are not authorized to live or work in the ...
Kentucky House rejects bill for heavier trucks
03/14/2005 - 11:23:47 am - Two weeks after easily passing the Kentucky House, a bill that would have allowed more trucks to exceed the 40-ton weight limit on roads in the state was rejected by the ...
Key compromise in highway bill addresses equity in state funding
03/14/2005 - 11:25:59 am - Even though President Bush is threatening a veto of the highway bill, the U.S. House overwhelming supported the $284 billion measure this week, partly because of a provision ...
OOIDA vs. DAC: Court rules that motor carriers are ‘consumer reporting agencies’
03/14/2005 - 11:28:23 am - On March 7 the Federal District Court in Denver, CO, ruled that when submitting termination record forms to DAC, motor carriers are “consumer reporting agencies” under the ...
Men’s Health Magazine features truckers’ advice to four-wheelers
03/15/2005 - 2:25:31 pm - Plenty of truckers complain about how four-wheelers drive. But this month, 350 of your fellow truck drivers took it a step further, telling the magazine Men’s Health the ...
Effort would force drivers in Connecticut to hang up at the pump
03/15/2005 - 2:27:52 pm - If a Connecticut state lawmaker has her way, drivers chatting on their cell phones while pumping fuel could face a $250 fine. Sen. Andrea Stillman, D-Waterford, ...
Truckers sue Canadian tax agency over per diem
03/15/2005 - 2:28:54 pm - A group of truckers and other traveling workers in Canada is suing that nation’s federal government, claiming that its tax policies on meal allowances discriminate against ...
South Dakota OKs new CDL standards
03/15/2005 - 2:30:06 pm - With the threat of losing millions in federal highway money, Gov. Mike Rounds has signed a bill into law to bring South Dakota into line with recently enacted federal ...
Bill would add 5-cent tax to many fuel sales in Arkansas
03/15/2005 - 2:31:55 pm - Truckers and other drivers in Arkansas would pay another nickel each time they use plastic to pay for fuel at the pump under legislation intended to help improve the state’s ...
Diesel continues surge, oil drops
03/15/2005 - 2:34:09 pm - The national average price-per-gallon for diesel fuel increased Monday, March 14, to $2.194 from last week’s average of $2.168, the Department of Energy reported ...
Texas seeks intermodal chassis inspection requirement
03/15/2005 - 2:35:59 pm - A Texas state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would shift the responsibility for container chassis from truck drivers to the ports that supply the chassis. The ...
Pennsylvania radio host puts spotlight on Knights of the Road
03/17/2005 - 1:39:28 am - Sheryl Youngblood, known over Pennsylvania’s airwaves as “Trucker Doc,” has launched a new program recognizing truckers’ acts of “random kindness.” The program is aptly called ...
Web site helps truckers find biodiesel outlets
03/17/2005 - 1:40:25 am - Truckers who want to fuel up in a more environmentally friendly way now have a way to find out where they can do just that. A Web site – biodiesel.org – has a list ...
OOIDA member Magers honored by Dart Transit
03/17/2005 - 1:41:21 am - Richard Magers, an OOIDA life member from Novinger, MO, is Dart Transit’s 2004 Independent Contractor of the Year. Magers, a 24-year Dart veteran, has two sons who ...
SuperRigs heads to Florida
03/17/2005 - 1:43:11 am - The 23rd annual Rotella SuperRigs Beauty Contest is scheduled for June 9-11 at the 75 Chrome Shop in Wildwood, FL. Last year, more than 90 contestants from the United States ...
Open container ban advances in Montana
03/17/2005 - 1:45:09 am - Montana’s attempt to outlaw drinking by motor vehicle passengers is closer to becoming law. House lawmakers have approved a bill that would ban alcohol consumption ...
North Carolina pursues harsher penalties for failure to ‘move over’
03/17/2005 - 1:47:41 am - A practice that is old hat to most truckers is going over like a lead balloon for drivers in North Carolina. In response, a bill before a state House judiciary ...
Cryptographer: Biometric readers far from foolproof
03/17/2005 - 1:49:16 am - Security companies and government agencies have been championing the new technology of biometrics as a sure-fire, secure way of identifying people for background checks and ...
Lower speeds approved for Tennessee’s Shelby County
03/17/2005 - 1:51:03 am - Heads up, drivers – by early summer the Tennessee Department of Transportation will reduce the speed limit for all vehicles traveling on urban interstates in Shelby County as ...
Engineer says he can’t say if Big Dig tunnels are safe
03/17/2005 - 1:52:27 am - An independent engineer says he is no longer able to assure that the tunnels making up Boston’s Big Dig are safe, media outlets reported March 15. Jack Lemley, the ...
Indiana idling proposal for cars draws four-wheelers ire
03/19/2005 - 11:59:20 am - Usually, when you hear about a ban on idling, it’s trucks getting the short end of the exhaust pipe. But in Indiana, car drivers are getting a taste of what more ...
Utah fails to approve stricter seat-belt law
03/19/2005 - 12:00:47 pm - A bill intended to permit police in Utah to pull over drivers who are not buckled up has died in a conference committee. The House approved the bill earlier but ...
Traffic camera bill ‘trash-canned’ in Alabama
03/19/2005 - 12:02:27 pm - An effort in the Alabama House to allow police to install cameras at traffic lights to catch those running red lights may be dead. The House Public Safety Committee ...
California proposal aims to help truckers get out of cities faster
03/19/2005 - 12:03:21 pm - California lawmakers are working on a resolution designed to help get trucks through the state’s metropolitan areas as quickly as possible. Designed as a pollution ...
Toll lanes planned for Florida superhighway
03/19/2005 - 12:04:29 pm - Florida plans to build high-occupancy toll lanes down Interstate 4 in the central part of the state, media outlets reported. The lanes would run along the highway ...
Illinois bill to give illegal immigrants driver’s licenses moves forward
03/19/2005 - 12:07:07 pm - A bill that would allow illegal immigrants in Illinois to obtain driver’s licenses has been approved by a committee and is awaiting preliminary approval on the full House ...
Price of crude oil hovers at near-record levels
03/19/2005 - 12:08:18 pm - The price of crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed for a second day above $56 a barrel, but short of yesterday’s record of $56.46. The $56.40 price ...
Paccar accepts Stonecipher`s resignation from board
03/19/2005 - 12:09:29 pm - Harry Stonecipher, dismissed earlier this month as the chief of Boeing Co. amidst allegations of misconduct, is officially off the board at Paccar. The Washington-based truck ...
Illinois biodiesel bill weakened, but gets House OK
03/19/2005 - 12:10:55 pm - Illinois lawmakers working on a proposal to promote the use of biodiesel have watered down their plan – but the less stringent version was quickly approved by the lower ...
Open container law diverts Tennessee highway funds
03/19/2005 - 12:12:30 pm - Tennessee is required to spend a chunk of its federal highway dollars on traffic safety because the state doesn’t have a ban on open containers of alcohol in vehicles ...
Colorado considers emergency-vehicle bill
03/19/2005 - 12:14:08 pm - A practice followed by professional truck drivers for decades would become law under an effort in the Colorado Legislature. The measure, unanimously approved by the ...
Tons of pot seized from tractor-trailer crossing into U.S. from Mexico
03/19/2005 - 12:15:45 pm - A tractor-trailer carrying more than 8,000 pounds of marijuana was stopped at California’s Otay Mesa border crossing earlier this month by officers of the U.S. Bureau of ...
Oil closes at $56.72; analysts say market wants to test $60 price
03/19/2005 - 12:18:58 pm - For the sixth week, crude oil prices increased, closing at $56.72 Friday, March 18, in trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude scheduled for delivery in ...
Trucking taking hit as diesel continues upward
03/19/2005 - 12:19:48 pm - The trucking industry continues to get slammed as diesel prices continue to climb. According to ProMiles, Washington was the state with the highest retail diesel prices on ...
Soldier killed in attack on mail convoy in Iraq
03/19/2005 - 12:21:08 pm - Rocky Payne, a member of the 497th Transportation Company based out of Fort Lewis, WA, was killed Wednesday, March 16, by an explosion targeting a mail convoy. The ...
Judge rules OOIDA suit against DAC may go forward
03/19/2005 - 12:21:23 pm - The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has obtained a ruling from a U.S. District Court in Denver that will allow its class action complaint against USIS ...
Teen cell-phone ban rejected in Virginia
03/23/2005 - 10:17:28 pm - Virginia teenagers can continue to chat on their cell phones while driving. Sen. Jay O’Brien, R-Clifton, withdrew his bill to ban cell phone use by drivers under ...
Illinois considers bill to authorize hazmat checks in state
03/23/2005 - 10:19:23 pm - Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would bring the state into compliance with the USA Patriot Act’s provisions on hazmat drivers. The bill, SB1825, ...
Smart signs debut on Maine roads
03/23/2005 - 10:20:41 pm - Truckers can get a glimpse of the next wave in highway sign technology on some highways in Maine. The Portland Press reported that the signs cannot only detect that ...
Bill would compel California ports to move trucks through in one hour
03/23/2005 - 10:22:14 pm - California lawmakers are continuing to chip away at ports that force trucks to wait and idle. The latest round was launched in February with the introduction of another bill ...
Missouri Senate approves lane restriction bill
03/23/2005 - 10:26:42 pm - The Missouri Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would ban large trucks from driving in the far left lane on most urban highways and interstates in the state. It ...
Section number corrected in fuel surcharge legislation
03/23/2005 - 10:32:21 pm - Truckers who are asking their U.S. senators to include a fuel surcharge provision in the Senate’s version of the highway bill should make note that the section number for the ...
Cost of diesel continues alarming climb, oil dips
03/23/2005 - 10:34:29 pm - Truckers continued to feel the pinch at the pump Monday, March 21, as diesel fuel prices continued to climb. It is the fifth straight week the national average price of diesel ...
Kentucky governor signs traffic-light changer bill
03/23/2005 - 10:35:59 pm - Gov. Ernie Fletcher has approved a bill that would outlaw the use of devices in Kentucky that can change some traffic signals from red to green from as far away as 1,500 feet ...
Illinois conducts highway safety summit
03/23/2005 - 10:37:10 pm - The state of Illinois is developing a plan to improve safety on the state’s highways that could lead to changes in state policy, including enforcement. A group of ...
Oklahoma House OKs effort to direct funds to roads, bridges
03/23/2005 - 10:38:40 pm - A transportation bill that would fund much-needed road and bridgework in Oklahoma without raising taxes has passed the state House. House lawmakers voted 95-5 ...
Iowa House panel advances bill to boost speeds, fines
03/23/2005 - 10:40:24 pm - A bill in Iowa that would permit drivers to legally drive 70 mph on rural interstates in the state is one step away from going to the full House for a vote. But there could be ...
Congressman wants more restrictions on DC hazmat shipments
03/23/2005 - 10:43:51 pm - A Massachusetts congressman has taken up the cause of District of Columbia officials who are trying to ban hazmat shipments near the U.S. Capitol building. Rep. Ed ...
Rigs robbed
03/23/2005 - 10:45:05 pm - Iowa has historically ranked high on the list of the safest states in which to live. But the state may be far from the top 10 on truckers’ lists of safe places to park ...
Missouri workers` comp bill moves to governor; truckers upset by provisions detrimental to drivers
03/23/2005 - 10:49:52 pm - Missouri lawmakers have approved legislation to make it harder to file workers’ compensation claims in the state. Truck drivers are among those adversely affected ...
Owner-operators’ bottom lines sinking as diesel costs soar
03/23/2005 - 10:52:44 pm - With diesel prices hitting all-time highs and industry analysts predicting the trend to continue, owner-operators are facing one of the toughest challenges in decades to their ...
Nebraska wants counties to take over state’s last gravel highways
03/25/2005 - 8:09:55 am - Truckers pay taxes all the time to keep highways across America paved and in good repair. And they generally assume that their money is paying for the highways and interstates ...
Montana bill looks out for teen drivers
03/25/2005 - 8:11:15 am - If a Montana lawmaker gets her way, this year, the state will end its distinction of being the only state without special driver’s license restrictions for teen drivers ...
Bill seeks to streamline oversize permitting in Illinois
03/25/2005 - 8:12:19 am - A bill now making its way through the Illinois General Assembly would streamline the paperwork process for overweight or oversize truck permits in the state. The ...
Fuel tax increase advances in Texas
03/25/2005 - 8:14:01 am - A Texas House panel has unanimously approved a measure that would have drivers digging a little deeper into their pockets to fill up their tanks. The House Ways and ...
Truck driver convicted on some charges in smuggling deaths; avoids death penalty
03/25/2005 - 8:16:00 am - Truck driver Tyrone Williams was convicted by a jury today, March 23, in the smuggling deaths of 19 illegal immigrants in 2003, media outlets reported. Williams, 34 ...
Teen driving limits OK’d in Wyoming
03/25/2005 - 8:17:37 am - Gov. Dave Freudenthal recently signed legislation to create a graduated driver’s license for Wyoming teens. The new law brings the state in line with 48 other ...
Maine police oppose higher seat-belt fines
03/25/2005 - 8:18:49 am - Maine’s police chiefs have done an about face on Gov. John Baldacci’s proposal to boost the fines for failure to buckle up. Two months ago, The Maine Chiefs of ...
Nation’s capital to place ‘virtual weigh station’ in interstate pavement
03/25/2005 - 8:20:42 am - Starting soon, truckers headed into the nation’s capital could have their rig’s weight checked – even if they don’t pull into a weigh station. The District of ...
Texas bill would allow idling
03/25/2005 - 8:22:09 am - A bill before a Texas House panel would allow truckers to idle their rigs for government-mandated rest periods. The House Environmental Regulation Committee is ...
Tennessee eyes lane restrictions for trucks
03/25/2005 - 8:23:34 am - Legislation before the Tennessee General Assembly would prohibit big rigs from driving in certain lanes on certain roadways. Sponsored by Rep. J. Chris Newton, ...
Oil refinery blast reignites higher crude oil prices
03/25/2005 - 8:25:40 am - After a one-day break from near-record prices, the price of crude oil went up again after an explosion at British Petroleum’s refinery in Texas City, TX. After ...
Open container bill advances in Indiana
03/27/2005 - 12:43:16 am - An Indiana Senate panel has approved legislation that would hold drivers responsible for open containers of alcohol found in the passenger sections of vehicles traveling ...
Texas lawmakers pursue limits on massive corridor project
03/27/2005 - 12:45:35 am - A group of Texas state lawmakers have introduced legislation they say would address some frequent criticisms of the Trans-Texas Corridor package approved during the 2003 ...
Alabama personal injury lawyers target trucks under guise of ‘safety campaign’
03/27/2005 - 12:50:18 am - An Alabama firm of personal injury lawyers has launched a toll-free hot line and Web site for motorists to report trucks they think are unsafe. The Web site is called ...
Teen driver cell phone ban moves forward in Illinois
03/29/2005 - 9:53:06 am - A bill designed to cut cell phone use by teens is a step closer to approval in Illinois Introduced by Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, the bill, SB210, would ...
Vote expected soon on Alabama county’s tag fee bill
03/29/2005 - 9:54:40 am - A bill in the Alabama House would levy an additional ad valorem tax on motor vehicles to improve transit in the county that includes Birmingham. The Jefferson ...
‘Pee bomb bill’ heads to Colorado governor
03/29/2005 - 9:57:43 am - Motorists littering highways in Colorado will soon likely have to visit an ATM instead of reaching into their pockets to pay the penalty. The House voted 55-9 on ...
Diesel prices continue upward, oil dips
03/29/2005 - 10:00:18 am - Prices at the pump are making truckers reach deeper and deeper into their pockets to stay out on the road. For the sixth straight week, the national average price of diesel ...
