OTA to be involved if Ontario resumes photo radar

GuardDog Connect now standard on Mack LR

California sees 40% jump in cargo thefts for Q3: report

For-Hire Freight Shipments Fall for Second Straight Month

Freight Transportation Services Index, September 2011 - September 2016. Graphic: U.S. DOT

A new U.S. Transportation Department report shows the total amount of for-hire freight moved in the country fell 0.6% in September from the month before, the second consecutive monthly drop.

The department's Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight, registered 121.5, 2.6% below the all-time high level of 124.7 in July 2016. These two months of decreases followed four consecutive monthly gains and puts the measure at its lowest level since March.

The August index was revised down slightly to 122.2 from 122.3 in last month's release while the July reading was revised up slightly to 124.7 from 124.5. When September is compared to the same time a year earlier the reading is down 0.6%

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index.

The September Freight TSI fell due to declines in trucking, pipeline and rail intermodal, while air freight, water, and rail carloads rose, according to the department, which added this took place as the economy was relatively stable.

The 0.7% third quarter decrease matched slow growth in industrial production, which remained unchanged in the third quarter, while gross domestic product growth jumped up to 2.9% in the third quarter, according to the department. GDP growth in the second and third quarters outpaced the 1.5% growth of TSI over those two quarters, after two earlier quarters when GDP grew less than 1% and TSI declined.

Also, the third quarter decrease of 0.7% followed an increase of 2.3% in the previous quarter, for a net increase of 1.5% over the six months. Since the beginning of 2015 the Freight TSI has declined in five out of ...Read the rest of this story

States Vote to Bolster Infrastructure Funding

Infrastructure funding was bolstered by voters in several states on election day, with measures being passed in Illinois, New Jersey, Louisiana and Maine that direct money at the issue.

With nearly 79% of the vote, the Transportation Lockbox Amendment passed in Illinois, blocking lawmakers from directing transportation funds away from transportation-related needs. Past transportation funding had been spent on funding social programs like health care and education, but this bill makes diverting funds unconstitutional, per a dnainfo.com post.

New Jersey voters approved a similar constitutional amendment that will ensure that more than $1 billion in revenue from the recently passed substantial fuel tax hike will be dedicated to transportation projects, according to a NJ.com post.

In a bipartisan deal crafted by Garden State lawmakers, the taxes on gas and diesel were raised for the first time in 30 years. The taxes are expected to account for more than half of the funding of the state's Transportation Trust Fund.

Louisiana voters approved an amendment creating a Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund that could increase available money to spend on transportation projects. Money from oil and gas revenue and corporate taxes will fill the fund over time and when it reaches $5 billion, as much as 10% will be available for road work and construction projects, per a post by The Advocate.

Lastly, voters in Maine approved a $100 million bond to fund infrastructure construction and rehabilitation in the state. The money will also be directed toward ports, harbors freight and railroads, according to Maine Public Radio.

Related: Outside the Beltway: Tour the Statehouse Battlegrounds

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

ATA Congratulates President-elect Trump

Trucking's biggest lobby, the American Trucking Associations, has congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his victory in the 2016 presidential election.

In a statement, ATA president and CEO Chris Spear expressed a desire to work with his administration to improve the economy and the nation's infrastructure.

“During the campaign, he highlighted the need to create jobs, and recognized that improving our nation's infrastructure is critical to strengthening the economy,” said Spear. “As the industry that moves nearly 70% of our nation's freight and is a key economic driver, we look forward to working with President-elect Trump on a host of issues, including long-term, sustainable infrastructure funding, tax reform, and fair and free trade.”

As the President-elect assembles his Administration in the coming months to prepare for taking office on Jan. 20, 207, ATA noted that it has already begun to work with Trump.

“We have already begun meeting with the Trump transition team and look forward to working closely with the new Administration on issues that will allow the trucking industry to continue to grow and move America forward,” said Spear.

Related: Hope for Highways Inside the Beltway

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

One day, with humans no longer at the wheel

read more