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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week proposed requiring operators of longer combination vehicles to have specialized federal training on how to drive with double and triple trailers.

The Department of Transportation recently proposed two rules, one that would establish a federal permitting process and operational requirements for certain types of hazardous material shipments, and another that would require more training for entry-level truck drivers.

The Agriculture Department has issued guidelines to protect shipments and distribution of meat, poultry and eggs, about four months after the Food and Drug Administration proposed rules on recordkeeping and detention of food shipments.

Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt (R), whom President Bush picked last week to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, was expected to leave in place the agency’s 2007 diesel-engine emission regulations and 2006 diesel fuel requirements, said officials for both trucking industry and environmental groups.

CHICAGO — A senior truck fleet executive warned that his company is concerned about its ability to afford trucks that will comply with 2007 federal emissions rules because of extra costs for both routine engine maintenance and onboard diagnostic systems.

CHICAGO — Environmental Protection Agency officials said last week that reports from refiners have assured them that the trucking industry can count on having enough ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel available in 2006 to meet their fleets’ needs.

CHICAGO — Several truck and engine manufacturers said they would soon demonstrate to the Environmental Protection Agency that there would be a sufficient nationwide supply of urea to support diesel engine emission-control systems using the nitrogen compound.

The Supreme Court has agreed to review an appeals court decision upholding the California South Coast Air Quality Management District’s requirement that certain public and private fleets buy alternative-energy vehicles instead of those powered by diesel engines.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee could soon consider a bill that would benefit the trucking industry by requiring steamship lines and railroads to repair container chassis and trailers.

The Senate has indefinitely delayed confirmation of Annette Sandberg to be administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration because one senator has placed a “hold” that stops action on her nomination, Capitol Hill sources told Transport Topics last week. br clear=all>