Have you been trucking since 1912 or earlier? If so, you are a true trucking pioneer, have an incredible fitness regimen and once earned an income without paying the Internal Revenue Service a dime! That’s right. It wasn’t until 1913 that income tax was made a permanent hassle by the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That means 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the IRS.... Read More

Just a short few days ago, on January 1, 2013, the new California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations came into effect on Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs). These new regulations come with consequences for brokers, shippers, receivers, carriers, and of course drivers. The new regulations apply to all highways, roads and rails in California and can be found in the California Code of Regulations, Title 13, Div. 3, Chapter 9, Article 8, § 2477.... Read More

Under freight rate regulation the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) spent considerable time evaluating why transport carriers failed. While their primary purpose was to keep rates low, they also wanted to keep transport carriers in business allowing them to recover their full cost of transport to include a profit sufficient to yield a fair and reasonable return on invested capital. Cost information was readily available to the ICC by reviewing public financial statement data.... Read More

Before I get into this article, I wanted to set the stage, as they say, by letting everyone know that the city of Farmington, Michigan is about to launch the first “Intellistreets” concept in the United States.

They are using federal grant money to become the first city in the world to feature “intelligent streets”. This will comprise a lighting pole system that combines energy conservation, homeland security features, audio, traffic control and more.... Read More

Before I get into this article, I wanted to set the stage, as they say, by letting everyone know that the city of Farmington, Michigan is about to launch the first “Intellistreets” concept in the United States.

They are using federal grant money to become the first city in the world to feature “intelligent streets”. This will comprise a lighting pole system that combines energy conservation, homeland security features, audio, traffic control and more.... Read More

Many carriers that ‘give away’ loads are acting as a broker without proper authority.

As capacity tightens, many motor carriers find they have more freight than they have drivers and trucks. This dilemma often leads to – as many call it –“subcontracting.” This arrangement appears perfect: the cargo makes it to its destination on time and the customer is happy, all while the original motor carrier still maintains a share of the fee charged to the shipper.... Read More

Drivers face all kinds of threats to their privacy, and one area sure to garner increasing scrutiny is the collection of DNA samples during traffic stops.

A recent example in the case of Troy Thomas, a suspect in a string of burglaries, who was stopped under the guise of a DUI check. He submitted to a breathalyzer test, which he passed. He was free to go. However, a sample of his DNA from the mouthpiece was submitted for testing, without his knowledge.... Read More

Historically, states have been prevented from slapping tolls on existing roads. But thanks to a federal pilot program designed to fund interstate improvements through toll revenues, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved plans for three states to do just that.... Read More

The US House and Senate negotiators are currently working out differences in the 1642 page transportation reauthorization bill passed by the respective chambers on this.

Yes, we all know that the FMCSA has been talking about Electronic On Board Devices but there is now a provision mandating the installation of black box recording devices in all automobiles beginning with the 2015 model year.... Read More

How to Explore Consortiums Further

If you think that a consortium is an option, your company should consider, some actions you might take, including the following:

• Ask for references, contact other employers participating in the consortium, ask about their experiences, and find out whether their approaches might work for you.
• Consider which of the consortium models might best serve your needs.

Separate Entity Model... Read More