Freight

Airplane begins preparations for flight test

EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 12 -- Boeing (NYSE: BA), on Thursday afternoon, towed the first 747-8 Freighter out of the factory in Everett, Wash. The airplane, ultimately destined for Cargolux, will be painted and begin preparations for flight test.

"It is very rewarding to see this airplane transition to the flight test phase," said Mo Yahyavi, 747 program vice president and general manager. "Our employees, suppliers and customers have put a lot of work into making the 747-8 Freighter a reality."    » read more »

November 09, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver issued a proclamation suspending the hours of service requirement for truck drivers delivering propane. The suspension of the rule will help bring propane into the state quicker, helping to ensure an adequate supply of fuel for farmers drying their crops after this year’s harvest.

“Iowa’s farmers are the best in the world,” said Governor Culver. “This proclamation will assist corn and soybean growers get these important commodities to market as quickly as possible.”    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today said he was pleased that the full Senate has voted in support of a one-year pilot program authored by Senator Susan Collins. The provision will exempt Maine’s Interstate highway system from the current federal truck weight limit. The Collins’ proposal was part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations legislation.    » read more »

Truck drivers can find idle reduction facilities using cell phones and PDAs

September 15, 2009 --
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) expanded its suite of Web-based, fuel-efficiency tools by launching the Mobile Truck Stop Electrification Locator. This comprehensive mobile application helps truck drivers find public truck stops with idle reduction facilities using a cell phone, BlackBerry, or other mobile device.    » read more »

Statewide freight summit attracted many federal and state officials to discuss a long-term vision for freight in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 14, 2009) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the release of Maryland’s first Statewide Freight Plan. The Plan was unveiled at the Maryland Department of Transportation’s second Statewide Freight Summit at the BWI Airport Hilton.    » read more »

Bill To Reduce Congestion On Roads By Encouraging More Freight To Be Carried By Barges and Ships; Would Create 'Maritime Highway', Help States Improve Ports

June 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today introduced a bill to reduce congestion on the nation’s roads by encouraging more freight to be carried by barges and ships. The legislation would create a grant program for ‘America’s Marine Highways’ to encourage shipping by sea or inland waterway and establish a new program to modernize port facilities to make freight movement more efficient.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- The long-term efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. freight transportation system is threatened by bottlenecks, inefficient use of some parts of the infrastructure components, vulnerability to disruptions, and crucial environmental and energy concerns, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation.

The U.S. freight transportation system moves about $40 billion worth of goods each day, with delays and uncertainty in the performance of the system translating into higher prices for consumers and reduced productivity, according to researchers.    » read more »

May 12, 2009 -- Rochester, MN – Congressman Tim Walz, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced their support for a southern rail corridor around Rochester’s south side. The southern rail corridor would route trains away from downtown Rochester and the Mayo Clinic to reduce safety risks and allow for future development. The project would create hundreds of jobs during the construction phase while potentially preserving thousands of Mayo Clinic jobs.    » read more »

Waterloo, Sioux Center Receive New Street Funding, Investments Made in Freight Rail

May 12, 2009 -- AMES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today announced that the Iowa Transportation Commission has approved funding to aid in the completion of several key infrastructure projects across the state. Up to $402,887 was approved through the state’s Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) program for Waterloo and Sioux Center, while four freight rail improvement projects totaling $5 million were approved.    » read more »

Teamsters, Safety Advocates Petition Court to Review Hours-of-Service Rule

March 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Teamsters, Public Citizen, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and the Truck Safety Coalition asked an appeals court today to review a dangerous Bush-era regulation that increased the amount of time truck drivers can spend behind the wheel.

The groups also sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asking him to begin work on a new regulation that would reduce truck crashes caused by fatigue.

“We have taken this action with the conviction, based on research and scientific data, that longer driving and working hours are unsafe and promote driver fatigue,” the letter said.    » read more »

Rail Plan is a Critical First Step for Federal Funding for Passenger and Freight Rail Improvements; Rail Improvements will Increase Speed and Reliability, Help Protect the Environment

March 9, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced the release of the 2009 New York State Rail Plan, providing the first comprehensive update of the State’s rail strategy in 22 years and fulfilling a prerequisite for federal funding for rail capital improvement projects. The announcement was made at the Capital District Transportation Authority’s (CDTA) Rensselaer train station.    » read more »

Job Action Affects About 1,250 Workers at 24 Terminals Across the Country

June 9, 2008 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Teamster carhaul members employed at Performance Transportation Services Inc. went on strike against the company at 9 a.m. EDT today to enforce the union’s bargaining table demands.

The nationwide strike affects 24 terminals and about 1,250 Teamster employees at the PTS’ companies: Leaseway Motorcar Transport Company, E. and L. Transport Company, Hadley Auto Transport and Transportation Releasing.

“We are on strike to enforce our bargaining table demands,” said Fred Zuckerman, Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division.

PTS employees haul vehicles for Ford, General Motors, Toyota and other manufacturers.    » read more »

Teamsters Nearing Goal of Representing 12,600 Workers

May, 2008 -- (Washington, D.C.)—In four months, more than 11,000 UPS Freight drivers and dockworkers in 40 states have signed cards to become Teamsters, the largest organizing victory in the freight industry in 25 years.

More than 9,900 of these workers have already ratified a new contract which improves wages, benefits and working conditions. The Teamsters won card-check agreement from UPS in December 2007, and began collecting cards from UPS Freight (formerly Overnite Transportation) workers on January 16, 2008.    » read more »

Risks, Costs Far Outweigh Claimed Productivity Gains; Statement of Joan Claybrook, President of Public Citizen

May 14, 2008 -- This statement was given at a news conference.

Thank you for joining us this morning. Today, we are here to make the case against allowing bigger, heavier and longer trucks onto our highways.

Truck crash: Photo by Daniel Gasienica (CC)

I’m joined by several people who have lost loved ones in crashes involving large trucks and a state trooper who was injured in a serious truck crash while protecting the public. They will share their stories with you.    » read more »

Hoffa Says Congress Shouldn’t Consider ‘Crazy’ Plan

May 14, 2008 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa on Wednesday urged Congress to ignore trucking industry lobbyists who want to let dangerous large trucks on our highways.

Container trucks on a US highway: Photo by futureatlas.com (CC)

A trucking industry group called “Americans for Safe and Efficient Transportation” is lobbying Congress this week for a pilot program to let bigger trucks on the road in five, possibly six states.

The states are Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Georgia and possibly Texas.    » read more »