US truckers scoff at big tax in Big Apple

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's controversial scheme to charge a carbon or congestion tax to trucks and cars entering Manhattan is being called "unfair, ineffective and ignores real transportation needs" by the country's largest trucking association.

SPECIAL REPORT: Not so happy meal deal for some owner-ops

TORONTO -- One step forward, two steps back. That's how some truckers are describing the new meal claim rules announced in the recent federal budget.

Canada to issue port worker security cards

HALIFAX -- Workers at Canada's seaports, including truck drivers, will soon have to carry mandatory ID cards when accessing container terminals and other ports facilities, Transport Canada announced yesterday.

APHIS rolls out smoothly; CTA boss laments ‘theatre of security’

FORT ERIE, Ont. -- Truck traffic flow to U.S. border crossings is pretty much normal today, despite it being the start of a new fee collection program by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Driving While Foreign: Truck blitz nets driver for not speaking English

GREENWOOD, Neb. -- A Russian-speaking driver in Nebraska was pulled off the road and placed out-of-service this week by the Nebraska State Patrol because he couldn't speak English, according to local television.

PC*MILER DOES TOLLS

ALK releases updated, re-branded PC*Miler/Tolls 21 with Canadian data

Ripe With Problems: Truckers question produce transport rules

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. -- The September 2006 outbreak of E.coli that killed three Americans and sickened another 200 (there was one confirmed case of illness in Canada)

U.S. issues official passport rule for land ports; CTA says rule still murky

WASHINGTON -- It's good news that FAST-approved truckers will be able to show US Customs a FAST card instead of a passport to cross the border next year, the Canadian Alliance says.

New ‘straightforward’ trip inspection regs roll out July 1

OTTAWA -- The National Safety Code (NSC) standard for daily truck inspections, which are set to take affect this weekend, will have a tangible impact across the country, says the Canadian trucking Alliance.

CTA has a take on possible Competition Act review

OTTAWA -- Industry Canada will likely launch a review of the Competition Act and recently invited Canada's largest carrier group to offer some suggestions.

Ontario bans burning used oil for heat

TORONTO -- Ontario's Liberal government is banning the burning of used oil in space heaters -- a practice employed in many industries, including at trucking fleets.

B.C. continues LCV pilot

VICTORIA - Long-combination vehicles (LCVs) have hit the highway between Burnaby and Kamloops under a new pilot project to evaluate the vehicles' impact on provincial roads, said Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon.

Kentucky latest U.S. state to raise speed limit

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Pending legislation on mandatory speed limiters may force some truckers in Ontario and Quebec to slow down, but in another Midwest state drivers will be allowed to hit the throttle a little harder.

Vanport enviro rules phase out older container trucks

VANCOUVER -- As it said it would do earlier this year, the Vancouver Port Authority is implementing tough environmental standards for truckers applying for a licence to access the ports.

MTO gives boat tails thumbs up

TORONTO -- Following discussions about fuel-savings technology with the Ontario Trucking Association, the provincial transport ministry has agreed to allow truckers to acquire permits for aerodynamic devices, commonly known as boat tails, on the rear of 53-ft trailers.