Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/15908
LogBook Freight plan bill favors rail Some transportation groups are backing a congressional bill meant to improve public freight policy while adding an infrastructure grants program. The bill includes funding eligibility for rail proj- ects, but trucking is not mentioned. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) intro- duced the Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation Act July 22. The bill was sent to the Commerce Committee and had not been reported out by mid-August. The FREIGHT Act, or S. 3629, would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop and imple- ment a National Freight Transportation Strategic Plan and create an Office of Freight Planning and Development. Projects that can receive grants are for port development or improvement, multi-modal terminal facilities, land port of entries, freight rail improvement or capacity expansion and an intelligent transportation system project primarily for freight benefit that reduces con- gestion, improves safety or plans that improve port or terminal access. Rail has received increased attention nationally as a method to reduce diesel pollution and road traffic. Some ports are adding short-haul freight services to decrease truck trips. The groups backing the legislation include the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, Environmental Defense Fund, Transportation for America and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association. Trucking organizations have not publicly issued a statement on the proposed legislation. The act’s goals include reducing freight transportation-related fatalities 10 percent by 2015 and cutting nation- al freight transportation-related carbon dioxide by 40 percent by 2030. — Jill Dunn SHORT HAULS Bill would increase truck weight The Senate has referred a bill to commit- tee that would increase the Interstate truck weight allowance from 80,000 to 97,000 pounds in states choosing this plan. On Aug. 4, Sen. Mike Crapo introduced the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2010, or S. 3705. The Idaho Republican’s bill, which has three co-sponsors, would require the heavier trucks have at least six axles. In 2009, 54 House members co- sponsored similar legislation. H.R. 1799 was referred to the transporta- tion and infrastructure and the ways and means committees. The American Trucking Associations says the bill would reduce emissions, decrease the number of trucks on the 12 OVERDRIVE SEPTEMBER 2010 road and fuel usage. Some other nations, including Canada, allow heavier weights. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association said such increases endanger road users and hasten infrastruc- ture deterioration. Many transportation safety groups oppose the legislation and say past size and weight increases have not yielded fewer trucks, trips or miles traveled. In March 2009, a bill to freeze Interstate truck lengths, the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act, or H.R. 1618, was referred to committee with 128 co- sponsors. The following month, a Senate committee held hearings on an identical bill, S. 779, which has seven co-sponsors. — Jill Dunn CARL KRITES, a Con-way Freight truck driver based in Wapakoneta, Ohio, was named the 2010 National Truck Driving Grand Champion. A driver for 31 years, he topped 415 other professional drivers from across the U.S. FOR-HIRE TRUCKING continued to add jobs in July, according to preliminary fig- ures from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since March 1, trucking companies have added 13,000 jobs. SPOT FREIGHT MARKET in July increased 122 percent over a year earlier, TransCore reported. July’s North American load vol- ume, however, was 14 percent lower than June. Spot freight loads for dry vans and refrigerated vans each dipped 8 percent in July compared to June, while flatbed load availability declined 17 percent. THE DEADLINE for carriers to use updated alcohol testing forms has been extended from Aug. 1 to Jan. 1, says the U.S. Department of Transportation. Under the bill, multi-modal termi- nal facilities are among projects that can receive grants. This site is in south Memphis, Tenn. Max Heine