Here is a look at what is happening in the world of transportation this morning:
- Some Congressmen think that the rapid drop in global oil prices offers an opportunity to hike U.S. fuel taxes, notes The Daily Caller, ostensibly to help refill the depleted coffers of the highway trust fund.
- James “Doug” Pielsticker, the former CEO of bankrupt motor carrier Arrow Trucking Co., got arrested Dallas, TX, this week, reports Tulsa World, for as-yet unknown charges.
- The California Trucking Association is helping teach safety tactics to truck drivers employed by a West Coast motor carrier, notes KRC TV.
- The Illinois state legislature overturned a veto that nixed raising truck speed limits, according to the Chicago Tribune; thus trucks will be soon be allowed to operate at 60 mph versus 55 mph on highways throughout the Prairie state.
- Toyota plans to introduce a new version of its Tacoma compact pickup in January, reports the Wall Street Journal.
- The U-T San Diego newspaper profiles the “Monster Truck” subculture.
- The Teamsters scuttled another unionization vote effort, this time at FedEx Freight’s Nashville terminal, according to The Tennessean newspaper; a move the LTL carrier says indicates that its drivers don’t want to unionize.
- The effort to withdrawal American military forces and their gear is being dubbed the “super bowl of logistics” by those involved, reports the Fayetteville Observer.
- A write for Wired magazine struggles to successfully keep his Nissan Leaf electric car fully charged and operational, though Clean Technica reports that the Leaf remains the top selling electric vehicle in the U.S.