Infrastructure

Executive order waiving environmental regs speeds infrastructure projects

The expedited projects include the I-285 Top End express lanes in Georgia and the I-495 managed lanes study in Maryland.

By Jenn Goodman • Sept. 22, 2020

California proposes $41M Shell grant for hydrogen fueling infrastructure

Shell said it has partners in Toyota and Honda, which have agreed to expand fuel-cell electric vehicle sales in the state to support the stations.

By Jim Stinson • Sept. 14, 2020

DOT plans funding, regulatory rollbacks in national freight strategy

The plan was created per a requirement in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and is meant to further the department's three strategic goals: safety, infrastructure and innovation. 

By S.L. Fuller • Sept. 04, 2020

Southeast trucking girds for Hurricane Laura

Spot posts rose as logistics and trucking companies pre-positioned assets before the Category 4 hurricane's landfall early Thursday morning.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 27, 2020

FMCSA waives HOS rules in 4 states as Hurricane Laura nears Gulf Coast

Downed trees and road closures are major concerns along I-10 and I-45, according to a SVP at Riskpulse. Roughly 200 miles of each interstate are in the storm's potential path.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 26, 2020

Infrastructure starts plummet 31% in July: Dodge

The drop was reported after road builders voiced concern about infrastructure projects worth $9.6 billion being canceled or delayed due to COVID-19. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 21, 2020

Deep Dive

Green hydrogen could be the final piece in a zero-emissions future

Green hydrogen beats renewables plus batteries at fueling heavy transport, serving industry and long duration storage — if it can be delivered affordably.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 19, 2020

Isaias downgraded to post-tropical cyclone, flooding risk remains

The storm's winds threatened to overturn truck trailers along the busy I-95 corridor.

By Emma Cosgrove • UPDATED: Aug. 5, 2020 at 8:54 a.m.

Residual effects of Hurricane Hanna to slow cross-border freight for days

Any closure of the major roads between Saltillo and Monterrey in Mexico can result in concentrated traffic and delays at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 28, 2020

House members call for suspension of Federal Excise Tax to stimulate truck buying

An FET suspension could stimulate demand for new trucks as Class 8 sales have tumbled, but it would also shrink the Highway Trust Fund.

By Jim Stinson • July 28, 2020

Study: 54% of Americans support VMT plus gas tax on trucks

The American Trucking Associations supports the gas tax for funding highway projects but has called truck-only, vehicle-miles-traveled taxes "discriminatory funding schemes."

By S.L. Fuller • July 13, 2020

House Dems' $1.5T infrastructure bill targets sustainability, bridges, truck parking

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she will bring the Moving Forward Act to the floor before the July Fourth break.

By Kim Slowey , Shefali Kapadia • June 24, 2020

$9M grant readies I-70 for autonomous trucks, platooning

The grant indicates federal and state governments are looking at testing the technology out on crucial routes. But, in some limited cases, driverless technology is ready to deploy now. 

By Jim Stinson • June 23, 2020

Utilities propose West Coast charging stations for electric trucks

Fleet managers are watching what utilities and agencies do and indicated in a survey they will deploy EVs as part of their freight-hauling fleet when they see the infrastructure assemble.

By Jim Stinson • June 22, 2020

MIT: Stiffer pavement could save fuel

Fuel losses are literally sinking into the road — and they're creating more emissions.

By Jim Stinson • June 18, 2020

California to pilot zero-emissions delivery zone

Local leaders in Santa Monica said the pilot program in the city's downtown commercial core will help them achieve ambitious emissions goals by 2028.

By Chris Teale • June 17, 2020

$494B infrastructure bill calls for Congressional review before HOS final rule applies

The INVEST in America Act received mixed reviews from ATA, OOIDA. 

By Chris Teale , S.L. Fuller • June 05, 2020

Plunging diesel prices offer fleets relief — but it may not last

Trucking experts don't see diesel offsetting costs long term because it's always a cycle, and low diesel consumption indicates freight volumes are slowing. 

By Jim Stinson • May 07, 2020

Highway travel speeds rise, clearing the way for freight movement

Personal VMT is down 46% in the U.S., leaving interstates open for essential goods transport, according to a report from Inrix.

By Shefali Kapadia • May 04, 2020

Trump tweets 'Phase 4' could mean long-awaited infrastructure bill

Does the COVID-19 outbreak give Trump, Congress a new opportunity for bipartisan road-fixing?

By Jim Stinson • March 31, 2020

Spot market displays new behavior as COVID-19 shifts demand

Coronavirus has put more spot-market trucks on routes once less lucrative.

By Jim Stinson • March 31, 2020

Los Angeles, Long Beach ports approve fee to phase out diesel trucks

More subsidies are on the way to nudge drayage providers toward electric vehicles.

By Jim Stinson • March 11, 2020

US House introduces $755M bill to fund truck parking spaces

Congress said millions of dollars will help fix the shortage in available parking spots for commercial trucks, a years-long industry concern.

By Jim Stinson • March 10, 2020

Most congested cities pose challenges for trucking

Promises of faster delivery times and reduced emissions are forcing trucking companies to look for creative solutions to heavy traffic.

By Jim Stinson , Cailin Crowe • March 10, 2020

Deep Dive

Coronavirus has trucking experts on edge for 2020

Forecasts for the remainder of the year are mute, as COVID-19 and driver shortages play out.

By Jim Stinson • March 09, 2020