Here is a look at what is happening in the world of transportation this morning:
- A “trucking war” of sorts is flaring up between Iran and Turkey, according to the Al-Monitor newspaper.
- The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) says the FMCSA failed to craft a representative sample of Mexican carriers for its cross-border pilot program.
- Fortune magazine reports that Ford Motor Co. is readying one of its biggest marketing campaigns ever for the new all-aluminum body 2015 model F-150 pickup.
- In an article in the Bangor Daily News, former FMCSA Administrator Annette Sandberg says “good policy and data” underlie the recently passed budget bill rider sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) to suspend the 34-hour restart rule.
- Heavy snows trapped drivers in southern California’s mountains over the last several days, notes USA Today.
- Driverless vehicles make Wired magazine’s list of “craziest sci-fi fantasies” that drew closest to becoming full-fledged reality this year.
- An Indiana man crafted a unique gift for his father this Christmas, reports FOX 59 News: a completely restored 1949 pickup truck.
- Linden, NJ, residents are complaining about overly loud freight trains passing through their town, according to CBS New York.
- A Georgia state committee tasked with finding transportation funding solutions issues its final report, notes the Atlanta Business Chronicle. It’s top solution? Raising fuel taxes.
- An article in Bond Buyer paints a dim picture in terms of Congressional ability in 2015 to hammer out a long-term transportation funding solution.