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WASHINGTON — A new disaster mitigation program enacted into law last year received a resounding endorsement from a Federal Emergency Management Agency official addressing executives at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on July 23.

The U.S. Department of Labor has clarified that the time drivers spend in sleeper berths does not count as compensable time, unless they are actually performing work or are on call.

American Trucking Associations’ June advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index declined by 1.1% in June, after also falling 4% in May.

In an effort to provide clarity for U.S. farmers and commercial drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on July 22 announced it is seeking public comment on revising agricultural commodity or livestock definitions in hours-of-service regulations.

Battery-electric medium-duty trucks may have a bright future due to their potential to reduce operational costs and improve sustainability. But currently, the availability of these trucks is limited as testing continues.

The U.S. average retail price of diesel dropped by 0.7 cent to $3.044 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported July 22. Meanwhile, crude oil rose to slightly more than $56 a barrel during trading of West Texas Intermediate.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has approved a 6% toll rate increase to keep pace with rising debt-service costs.

The Chinese government is in discussions with state and privately owned soybean buyers over a plan to raise purchases of U.S. supplies, according to people familiar with the situation.

The Heritage Foundation says Congress should devolve the federal government's functions to state agencies and immediately end all subsides for state roads. Here's your Capitol Agenda look at the week ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill.