Consumer caution, high unemployment and slow growth in household wealth will slow U.S. economic growth through next year, according to a survey by the National Association of Business Economics.  The 46 economists in the association's quarterly survey forecast growth in real GDP of 2.6 percent this year, down from their May prediction of 3.2 percent. The economists predict GDP will accelerate gradually through 2011 but remain "moderate" next year.

 

CSX, the State of New Jersey and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey have officially opened the Liberty Corridor Freightway, a major public-private partnership that provides expanded access to the Port of New York & New Jersey. Enabling double-stack intermodal freight to flow from the Port of New York & New Jersey to inland destinations, the Liberty Corridor Freightway will increase train capacity, improve service levels and expedite freight flows to and from inland ports.  With the opening of the Liberty Corridor Freightway, intermodal freight can flow to destinations across the country via CSX.

 

KCSM and Bulkmatic de México S. de R.L de C.V. recently opened a new TransLoad Center (TLC) at the Maclovio Herrera rail facility in Ocoyoacac, Mexico, near Toluca. Operated by Bulkmatic, the facility will be used to transload freight - such as chemicals, steel, paper and plastic - from rail to truck for final delivery.

 

 

A federal appeals court has ordered the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to issue before Dec. 30 its proposal spelling out what documents trucking fleets need to retain to verify their drivers' hours-of-service logbooks. The decision was a victory for American Trucking Associations, which filed a lawsuit earlier this year in an attempt to get the agency to issue the rule mandated by a 1994 federal law.

For the first time in 37 years, federal regulators are proposing tougher standards for truck tire performance, including new speed tests.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it intends to create more stringent tire inflation and load tests and add a requirement to label tires with their load specifications.  Until the new regulations become final, tire safety will be regulated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 119, which was written in 1973. At that time, the maximum allowable national truck weight was 73,280 pounds and the national speed limit was 55 mph.  

Trucking Advantage, LLC announced today the upcoming release of PocketFuelCal; a unique business and productivity app for iPhone™, which provides transportation industry professionals with a quick method to calculate fuel surcharges.  According to the Department of Energy, the average price of diesel in the U.S. costs 42 cents more than at this same time last year. Transportation businesses typically incur a fuel surcharge to recoup their losses attributed to these price increases. "Truckers, drivers, shippers, and business travelers around the world will appreciate the simplicity and flexibility of this app, as it provides an efficient means to protect their profits," according to Trucking Advantage.  Truckers, drivers, shippers, and business travelers around the world will appreciate the simplicity and flexibility of this app, as it provides an efficient means to protect their profits.  To celebrate the launch, Trucking Advantage plans to give away gas money and prizes via social networking. Follow @truckingadv on Twitter or visit TruckingAdvantage.com to find out more. The official release date is to be announced soon.