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Five states received federal grants totaling $6 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Secretary Ray LaHood in June with the purpose of easing truck parking shortages on U.S. interstates.

The Pennsylvania House has unanimously passed a bill that would ban indemnification contracts that some shippers and receivers force trucking firms to sign.

Massachusetts and Iowa enacted laws to combat distracted driving late last week, with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) signed legislation Friday outlawing texting while driving, making his the 29th state to outlaw the practice.

President Obama marked the 10,000th road project funded by last year’s stimulus law in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this month, marking the beginning of what is being dubbed “Recovery Summer,” a six-week surge of infrastructure projects funded by the stimulus.

Consumer confidence declined this month following the highest level in more than two years in May, the New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday.

The Senate confirmed former FBI deputy director John Pistole to be head of the Transportation Security Administration — the first time the post has been filled during the Obama administration, the Washington Post reported.

A new study has found that nationwide adoption of a low-carbon fuel standard would increase the retail cost of motor fuel by as much as 170% over a 10-year period.

I continue to be perplexed by May 10’s “Opinion” writer, David Dwinell. Call me old school, but I prefer my statements to be supported by facts.

This week’s issue of Transport Topics includes some interesting news about the federal government’s new safety regime for trucking, Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010, including that the program is going to be renamed.