Obama Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline Proposal - Truckinginfo.com

From Truckinginfo.com
Janaury 2012

President Obama announced that his administration is rejecting the controversial proposal for the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline, which would have transported 700,000 barrels of oil daily from Canada, Montana and the Dakotas to U.S. refineries in Houston. The proposal has been under review for more than three years.

Because the pipeline would have crossed an international border, its proposal required a Presidential Permit from the Department of State.

Obama acted before a Feb. 21 deadline Congress set after he postponed a decision in November while a revised Nebraska route was being reviewed. According to The Hill, Obama's rejection "will escalate an explosive election-year fight with Republicans and major business groups."


The American Trucking Associations previously expressed its support of the pipeline. The organization said the pipeline would enhance U.S. energy security, create jobs and reduce air emissions associated with transporting this oil to market.

To read the full article CLICK HERE

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Commentary:  For every trucker who is sweating the price of oil, I have to believe that the 700,000 barrels a day may have kept the price of gas in check as well as brought back oil dollars which are flowing into themiddle east.






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Truck Paper for CC XL Jan 2012 LR

Senate Commerce Committee Passes Truck Safety Bill - Truckinginfo.com

12/15/2011 Senate Commerce Committee Passes Truck Safety Bill
By Oliver B. Patton, Washington Editor

In a contentious session yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee cleared the truck safety section of the pending highway bill.

The committee cleared the bill 13 to 11 on a party-line vote, not because the Republican minority opposes the safety provisions, but because the measure includes an amendment concerning freight planning that the minority does not like.

The safety provisions include a mandate for comprehensive electronic onboard recorders and a requirement that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration establish a clearinghouse for drug and alcohol test results.

The bill also would require FMCSA to establish a written proficiency exam for new entrants into trucking, and an employer notification system for driving violations. And it calls for research into the possibility of crash worthiness standards.

The contention arose over a provision to create a national freight policy and infrastructure grant program.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, the ranking Republican on the committee, complained that this measure was added at the last moment and said it is flawed because it creates "a new, unfunded discretionary grant program."

She cited concern by American Trucking Associations that without a named funding source or amount, the program might wind up taking money out of the Highway Trust Fund. ATA, in a letter to the committee, said that a multi-modal program should be paid for out of general funds rather than the highway fund.


To read the full article for "Senate Commerce Committee Passes Truck Safety Bill" click here - Truckinginfo.com
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Rep. DeFazio Cites Concerns on Mexican Truck Program | Transport Topics Online | Trucking, Freight Transportation and Logistics News

From Transport Topics
4/18/2011
 
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) has sent a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration asking the agency to address “serious concerns about the safety of Mexican trucks on U.S. roads and the potential loss of American jobs” related to the cross-border trucking program with Mexico.

The letter follows details released earlier this month by the Obama Administration on its cross-border trucking pilot program with Mexico.

DeFazio’s letter, dated Friday and addressed to FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro, stated that the starts the “full liberalization of cross-border trucking” without addressing concerns raised by Congress.


He also wrote he “strongly support(s)” Mexican trucks using electronic onboard recorders, but said it is “outrageous that U.S. truckers, through the federal fuel tax, will subsidize the cost of doing business” for Mexican Carriers by buying EOBR's using FMSCA money.

To read the full article click HERE

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Obama Says U.S. May Tap Oil Reserve

From Transport Topics
March 14, 2011

President Obama said on Friday that he is prepared to tap the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve if needed to prevent any oil supply disruptions, even as oil prices slipped, news services reported. That statement was followed Monday by news that fuel prices have once again jumped. 

The president — who also said he favored expanded domestic oil exploration — attributed the recent run-up in oil and gas prices to increased global demand, combined with uncertainty in oil markets due to political turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East, CNN reported on its website.

“Everybody should know that, should the situation demand it, we are prepared to tap the significant stockpile of oil that we have in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve,” the president told reporters in Washington.

Obama did not specify what price level would trigger a release from the SPR, but said the U.S. and its allies would do what it takes “to make sure that oil supplies remain stable and that economic growth will continue,” CNN reported.

Pete light clearance light

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy reported Monday that diesel prices rose for the 15^th straight week, rising 3.7 cents to $3.908 a gallon. The increase was lower than the double-digit gains of the past two weeks, but still pushed the average price closer to the $4 a gallon mark that it has already reached in some areas.

A gallon of diesel is nearly one dollar more expensive than it was a year ago, DOE said. Diesel prices have risen almost 75 cents since Thanksgiving and nearly 30 cents over the past two weeks.

Gasoline prices, meanwhile, rose 4.7 cents to $3.567 a gallon, the 14th increase in 15 weeks, DOE said following its weekly survey of filling stations

Truck driver shortage could boost consumer prices

FAIRFIELD, Ohio - Fairfield-based Osborne Trucking is so bullish on the economic recovery that the firm bought 28 new trucks and trailers.

“In the past six months we’ve invested roughly $4 million in new equipment,” said Executive Vice-President Brant Osborne.

However, there’s a problem shared by logistics firms throughout Greater Cincinnati and in many parts of the country.
There aren’t enough drivers to get behind the wheel of the shiny red and black rigs.

“The challenge is finding drivers who are qualified to do the job and are interested in working,” said

Osborne’s Transportation Vice-President John Holmes. “We’re looking to hire at least 20 more right now.”

It’s a problem that could mean higher prices for consumer goods as the cost of shipping products increases.

The recession caused many trucking firms to go out of business and many drivers to either retire or seek other occupations.

Now, data from the American Trucking Association (ATA) indicates that the amount of freight that needs to be shipped is up seven percent from May 2009 to May 2010.

To read the whole story click the link
Truck driver shortage could boost consumer prices
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finally government legislation that might actually help the trucking industry

Senate Bill Would Allow Heavier Trucks

From Transport Topics

Measure Backed by ATA, Shippers’ Group

A trio of senators introduced a bill that would allow states to increase the maximum weight for trucks operating on their interstates beyond the federal limit of 80,000 pounds.

Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) said in introducing the Safe Efficient Transportation Act that states would be allowed to “opt in” and increase their weight limits to 97,000 pounds.

The legislation is identical to a bill introduced in the House last March by Reps. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) and Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) and would require the new, heavier trucks to have six axles in order to diffuse the added weight.

“This bipartisan legislation strikes the right balance between productivity and safety,” Kohl said in a statement.
The bill is backed by American Trucking Associations and the Coalition for Transportation Productivity, a shippers’ group, the two said in statements Thursday.

“ATA supports a number of reforms to federal truck size and weight regulations as part of our Sustainability Initiative,” said ATA President Bill Graves.

“More efficient trucks, like those allowed under this legislation, will significantly reduce the trucking industry’s carbon output,” he said in a statement.


Senate Bill Would Allow Heavier Trucks | Transport Topics Online | Trucking, Freight Transportation and Logistics News

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