Truckers and Travelers

DISTRACTED DRIVING

In addition to state efforts, three Congressional bills addressing distracted driving are at the center of the federal debate. Two of those bills are Senate and House companion pieces known as “Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act” or the “ALERT Drivers Act” (S.1536 /H.R.3535) which were introduced in the Senate by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and in the House by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).  

Land Line Magazine

• Lawmakers tackle distracted driving, texting (10.20.09)

CAP AND TRADE

A cap-and-trade system would establish carbon emission limits for several business sectors and is expected to cause sharp increases in fuel and diesel prices. A credit system would allow businesses that operate above limits to purchase credits and would allow businesses with leftover credits to sell on the open market.

Land Line Magazine

• Cap and trade proposal passes committee, moves to full Senate (11.09.09)
• Facing heat over cap and trade, U.S. Chamber changes tone (11.04.09)

TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT

Some large shippers and the American Trucking Associations have made increasing the allowable vehicle weight from 80,000 pounds on 5-axles to 97,000 pounds on 6-axles one of their top priorities for next year’s reauthorization of the federal highway bill. The ATA and large shippers are also pursuing a much less public campaign to allow longer combination vehicles (double trailers, triples, etc.), or “LCVs,” to operate on more of the Interstate Highway System. OOIDA opposes such measures.

Land Line Magazine

• SPECIAL REPORT: OOIDA debunks push for bigger, heavier trucks (04.01.09)
• SPECIAL REPORT: OOIDA again battles push for longer, heavier trucks (07.09.08)
• Who are they kidding? (July 2009 Magazine Issue)
  Corporate America and their lobbyists want to try and convince lawmakers that increasing truck size and weight is a good idea. Truckers know better.