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President Obama plans to name former Maryland legislator and trucking industry critic Bill Bronrott to be deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The White House Office of Management and Budget approved a proposed ban on texting by commercial drivers Monday, sending the regulation on to be published in the Federal Register.

WASHINGTON — Anne Ferro, head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, told Transport Topics she hoped the agency will get a variety of points of view during its upcoming public hearings on hours-of-service.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said last week its clean diesel efforts have produced $500 million to $1.4 billion in public health benefits.

Rose McMurray, acting head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, told Transport Topics the agency was hopeful of finding a resolution to the ongoing trade row between the U.S. and Mexico over longhaul truck access.

The Senate approved legislation increasing the funding for the Department of Transportation in 2010, leaving in a provision that would allow Maine to increase the weight limit on Interstate 95 to 100,000 pounds.

The number of Americans killed in truck-related crashes fell 12% in 2008 to 4,229, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

WASHINGTON — President Obama’s nominee to head the Federal Highway Administration told a Senate panel he considers it important to look for “balance” in debating truck size limits.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Transportation has yet to make a decision on whether to back increased federal truck weight limits, Secretary Ray LaHood said.