The Federal Reserve Tuesday cut the key U.S. interest rate to a “target range” of zero to 0.25%, a record low.
December 16, 2008BusinessSafety
AAA Forecasts a Decrease in Christmas Holiday Travel
There will be a slight decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Christmas holiday period compared with last year, first such decline in six years, according to the motorists’ group AAA.
December 17, 2008GovernmentBusinessSafety
Letters to the Editor: EOBR Mandate; Auto Bridge Loan; Broker Legislation; Medical Certificates
Onboard recording devices are the future. Successful use of these devices . . . does not eliminate cheating on the logs, in spite of anything Joan what’s-her-name thinks. Ask any driver [at a company that uses them].
December 17, 2008GovernmentBusinessSafetyFuelTechnologyEquipment
EPA to Require Sensors For Emissions in 2010
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued its final rule requiring heavy-truck manufacturers to install onboard diagnostic systems starting in 2010 to alert drivers when engine emission systems are malfunctioning or deteriorating.
December 15, 2008GovernmentBusinessSafetyFuel
Calif. Sets Strict Diesel Emissions Rule
The California Air Resources Board Friday adopted the strictest diesel emission standards in the nation, requiring expensive diesel particulate filters on rigs on a timetable, over objections the rule could hurt or shut down smaller trucking companies, the Associated Press reported.
December 15, 2008BusinessGovernmentSafety
Obama’s Infrastructure Proposal Draws Trucking Industry Praise
President-elect Barack Obama’s promise to sponsor the largest infrastructure-building program in more than 50 years has excited trucking officials, who also encouraged the new administration not to overlook the longer-term highway spending package due next year.
December 15, 2008BusinessSafetyGovernment
DOT Releases Early Fatality Data
The Department of Transportation said highway deaths fell 10% for the first 10 months of 2008 and said it expects fatalities to be at an all-time low when the full year totals are calculated.
December 12, 2008BusinessSafety
Intermodal Traffic Falls for Week
Rail and intermodal traffic fell last week from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.
December 12, 2008BusinessSafetyGovernmentFuel
Obama Chooses Heads of DOE, EPA
President-elect Barack Obama has chosen the Nobel-prize-winning head of a California research institute and a former New Jersey environmental official to fill his cabinet positions heading the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, Bloomberg reported Thursday.
December 11, 2008BusinessSafetyGovernment
Infrastructure Program Funding May Reach $20 Billion
Federal funding highway infrastructure projects in an economic stimulus plan may be about $20 billion, Bloomberg reported, citing a group that represents state transportation officials.
December 11, 2008