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The quick return to an 80% meals expense tax deduction, supported by trucking and passed by the House of Representatives, may not come up for Senate consideration for at least two weeks, said the press secretary for Majority Leader Trent Lott.

The federal regulations that govern how much time a professional driver can spend behind the wheel have been around for more than 60 years, but not without changes or opposition from the trucking industry.

As the National Private Truck Council holds its convention this week, the organization has an identity crisis. It is not well-known among its potential members and may be suffering from an outdated designation.

In the news this morning: Utah trucking company finds more women are becoming truckers; Arizona study could undo split speed limits for cars, trucks; and Arkansas provides $500,000 grant for new driver training center.

Overnite Transportation reported last week that a Teamsters local in Philadelphia and a picket line captain were found in contempt of court and fined a total of $30,000 in connection with an assault on an Overnite driver.

There’s an adage in government that if you issue a rule and no one’s happy, you’ve done a good job. The Department of Transportation’s proposal that long-haul trucks be equipped with recorders that track driver hours will test that theory.

A federal appeals court granted Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. and Canadian National Railway Co. an expedited review of their appeal of a Surface Transportation Board decision that blocked the two railroads’ merger.

TruckersCo-op.com, an online venture by Celadon Group that offers volume discounts to small- and mid-sized carriers, is going public and changing its name to TruckersB2B.com.

The price for a gallon of diesel fuel jumped 3 cents last week after five straight weeks of decline — putting the spotlight again on the survival struggles of small trucking companies and owner operators.

In the news this morning: Underwriters say theft prevention programs can trim insurance costs; Nissan Diesel to seek 60 billion yen cost cuts in three years; and Teamsters endorsement of Rep. Hoekstra draws rank-and-file criticism.