Oil Prices

A “build” and a “Twist” knocked oil prices to the floor on Wednesday. In the morning, the government announced a surprise increase, or build, in U.S. oil supplies. That told investors that America has a bounty of crude and less need to import more from foreign countries. Then the Federal Reserve extended an interest-rate reduction […]

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Fewer fleet failures in 1Q, report finds

The trucking industry has experienced a strong recovery in 2012, as fewer trucking companies have failed in the first quarter of 2012 than in recent years, according to the Paragon Report, which examines investment opportunities in the trucking industry. Companies who have survived the recent recession will be well-positioned to profit going forward, the report

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Used prices on Class 8 sleepers still rising

Retail pricing for Class 8 sleeper tractors continued to increase from January through April despite average mileage near-record highs. The findings were released Thursday, June 14, as part of the June edition of Guidelines, a monthly report that analyzes retail and wholesale pricing trends in the automotive and trucking industries. “High new-truck pricing combined with

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ONLINE SPECIAL: Early spring increases urea demand, drives up DEF prices

April showers bring…higher diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) prices? An early end to winter across much of North America has driven up agricultural demand for urea – the key ingredient in DEF – and in many cases has translated into higher DEF prices. “An early planting season in some areas of North America has really put

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FMCSA: No need for no-defect intermodal DVIRs

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Monday, June 11, issued its final rule that eliminates the requirement for drivers operating intermodal equipment to submit – and intermodal equipment providers to retain – driver-vehicle inspection reports when the driver has neither found nor been made aware of any defects in the IME. FMCSA’s action responds

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New York, Maine Consider Hefty Toll Hikes

New York legislators are fuming over the state thruway authority’s consideration of a 45 percent increase in commercial tolls, while the Maine Turnpike Authority has scheduled meetings this month concerning a relatively smaller toll hike proposal for truckers. New York Assemblyman Frank Skartados blasted the state thruway authority’s preliminary approval May 30 to raise tolls

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Speed Limiter Ruling Does Not Affect Law Enforcement

Yesterday’s ruling by an Ontario Justice of the Peace who tossed out a ticket under the province’s speed limiter legislation does not change the enforcement of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) law whatsoever, according to the Ontario Trucking Association, adding that the organization is “not at all concerned” with the decision. “People challenge traffic tickets

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Period for SMS Preview Extends Comments by FMCSA

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is giving carriers more time to comment on the proposed changes to its Safety Measurement System. SMS is the workload prioritization tool that helps FMCSA identify motor carriers for safety intervention under its Compliance, Safety, Accountability system. The changes, part of an ongoing CSA revision process, touch on several

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