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HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Mack Trucks inaugurated its new drive-axle line here, the result of a two-year, $30 million investment that is part of the company’s strategy of vertical integration of powertrain components — engines, transmissions and axles.

The highway bill a House panel is scheduled to consider Oct. 22 will include provisions intended to boost freight connectivity and enhance accountability at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Rep. Bill Shuster said in an exclusive interview with Transport Topics.

Trailer makers are troubled by the Phase 2 proposal on greenhouse-gas emissions, with some asserting the agencies involved exceeded their regulatory authority and others arguing the mandates are overly aggressive and based on faulty assumptions.

Driver training school operators and fleet executives said new federal regulations are increasing the cost of training and making it more difficult for people to obtain commercial driver licenses.

The average price of diesel fuel in the United States rose 6.4 cents a gallon to $2.556, the largest increase in more than two years, the Department of Energy reported.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would need to propose ways to improve its scoring program if a study required under a six-year highway bill unveiled Oct. 16 finds flaws in the program.

With the highway bill set to be marked up Oct. 22, Democrats on the House ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøland Security Committee have asked their fellow members on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to prevent the use of Customs and Border Protection fees to cover the costs of another short-term funding extension.

Vice President Joe Biden, who gave a major infrastructure speech in Washington on Oct. 8, continued his interest in transportation issues six days later by meeting with a group of stakeholders at the White House.