Autonomous

Truck drivers need greater flexibility within federal driver work and rest rules to allow them to select sleep times and duration based on individual need, according to a study released jointly by American Trucking Associations and a sleep research firm.

Federal Reserve districts reported some regional slowdowns in trucking in the first few months this year, the Fed said Wednesday in its latest “beige book” survey of economic conditions.

The Department of Transportation’s move to conduct a broad test of opening the U.S.-Mexican border to truck traffic is a prudent step toward honoring mutual commitments made by both nations when the North American Free Trade Agreement was ratified.

In a 5-4 opinion, the Washington State Supreme Court has interpreted a state overtime provision to apply to interstate truck drivers who work in excess of 40 hours in a week, regardless of whether a portion of those working hours take place outside of the state.

OTAY MESA, Calif. — U.S. Department of Transportation officials said they would be interested in a potential study of larger or heavier trucks, suggested recently by the chairman of the House transportation committee.

EL PASO, Texas — The Transportation Department’s pilot project allowing a limited number of Mexican carriers to access U.S. highways would not diminish security at the border, Michael Jackson, deputy secretary of Homeland Security, said at a Feb. 23 press conference.

WASHINGTON — Advocacy groups and congressional leaders, citing safety concerns, questioned the Department of Transportation’s decision to allow Mexican trucks into the United States, and a key senator said she would hold a hearing on the issue.

As the trucking industry shifts to the next generation of low-emission diesel engines, some fleet maintenance managers said they have experienced few problems with the transition, which presents maintenance adjustments for heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks alike.

Swedish truck maker Scania AB’s Chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder may step down from his position this week, to be replaced by Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn, Bloomberg reported Monday.

Schneider National Inc., which recently received a license to operate as a domestic carrier in China, is at the leading edge of a growing Asian investment wave by U.S. fleets, joining both truckload and less-than-truckload companies that have partnerships or logistics operations there.