Trucking associations want liberalized cabotage rules

OTTAWA -- The Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Associations have launched a joint lobbying campaign for more flexibility in the movement of empty trailers by foreign truck drivers.

MTO creates committee to oversee highway vehicle recovery practices

TORONTO -- At the request of the Ontario Trucking Association, Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar will create a working group to review how highway traffic incidents in Ontario are handled, and to develop a solution to control potential abuses of the selection of recovery companies at roadside.

Bush won’t back off passport rule

CANCUN, Mexico -- U.S. President George W. Bush says he won't oppose Congress's law requiring anyone entering the U.S. to carry a passport or similar biometric credentials even though businesses on both sides of the border insist the rule will hamper travel and trade.

More uniform tank trailer rules don’t go far enough: CTA

OTTAWA -- US DOT is revising its rules dealing with Canadian and domestic-built tank trailers used for bulk shipments in North America, but not nearly enough to truly harmonize the use of these trailers for the transport of dangerous goods, says the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

B.C. forest council wants extra on-duty hour for log truckers

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. -- B.C. truck loggers are looking to convince regulators to allow more driving hours than the upcoming Canadian hours-of-service rules mandate.

Reefer Madness in California; OOIDA, ATA battle tough TRU rules

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. -- The Golden State has truckers seeing red these days. American owner-operators have joined the country's carriers in trying to put a stop to a controversial rule which subjects trucks hauling reefers in California to extremely stringent emission standards.

SPECIAL REPORT: Quebec allows full parity between dual and single tires

QUEBEC CITY -- Quebec is the first Canadian province to eliminate the weight penalty for using single wide-based tires.

SPECIAL REPORT: Ambassador OKs banned hazmat cargo on bridge

WINDSOR, Ont. -- The Ambassador Bridge is telling its bridge workers to wave through trucks carrying hazardous cargo in violation of a U.S. ban, according to a document obtained by The Windsor Star.

ACEs High: Next enforcement phase of e-manifest program starts in May

OTTAWA -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection is has is moving ahead with Phase Four enforcement of the e-manifest reporting system under the Trade Act.

US Customs unveils C-TPAT security link portal

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the new Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program's Internet Application and Communications Portal is the next significant system advancement, which will enhance and improve the processing and communication for all C-TPAT participants and certified C-TPAT members.

SPECIAL REPORT: Federal bill attempts to gain control of private bridges

OTTAWA -- Canadian Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon has tabled a bill that would allow his ministry to control the purchase and sale of all international bridges and tunnels in Canada and regulate security, maintenance, and other operational practices.

CTA wants shippers to pick up their share of C-TPAT load

OTTAWA -- Canadian Trucking Alliance boss David Bradley says all links in the trade chain need be clear on their obligations for the more stringent C-TPAT rules, so that trucking carriers are not called upon to do the work of others.

FMCSA not cracking down on repeat rule breakers: Inspector General

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. DOT's watchdog has found that the department's motor carrier regulatory arm has significantly improved oversight of carrier safety since its last audit in 1999, but needs to do better in identifying a pattern of violations by truckers and closing loopholes so that repeat violators don't escape maximum fines.

Diabetic truckers may see relaxed medical rules in U.S.

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering whether to amend its medical qualifications standards to allow drivers with insulin- treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) to operate commercial trucks in interstate commerce.

ACE fees show system participation growing rapidly

WASHINGTON -- The number of entries in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) has skyrocketed seven-times over in the last eight months, reports U.S. Customs and Border Protection.