Here are five things worth knowing today:
1. Otto’s self-driving truck hits the road in Ohio
Otto’s self-driving truck is scheduled to travel 35 miles on Route 33 today in central Ohio, according to a report in The State. The truck will travel in regular traffic, and a driver will be “positioned to intervene should anything go awry,” the report notes. The truck is also scheduled to travel next week on Ohio Turnpike. Last month, autonomous vehicle technology developer Otto’s truck hauled and delivered its first live load – a trailer full of Budweiser beer transported 120 miles in Colorado for Anheuser Busch.
2. Infrastructure not ‘core’ part of Trump’s agenda
During an interview with The New York Times, president-elect Donald Trump said infrastructure will not be the “core” part of his agenda during the first few years of his administration, The Hill reports. According to the report, Trump did say infrastructure will, however, be an important factor. Trump has made it a point to talk about the need to repair the nation’s crumbling transportation infrastructure, “even giving the issue a shout-out in his acceptance speech,” according to The Hill. The Hill has more.
3. Uptick in freight shipments last month
The Wall Street Journal reports that domestic freight shipments rose 2.7% in October from the same month a year ago and advanced 1% from September. According to the report, October marked the first year-over-year volume gain in 20 months. WSJ also reports that according to FTR analyst Jonathan Starks, freight businesses have benefited from an uptick in demand for flatbed services. WSJ has more.
4. Tennessee opens debate on gas tax increase
Nashville Public Radio reports that Tennessee Republicans are considering raising the state’s gas tax to pay for roads and help mitigate traffic congestion. According to the report, Gov. Bill Haslam has been hinting at the need to raise the gas tax for two years. “Tennessee’s tax ranks among the lowest in the nation, and it hasn’t risen in more than two decades,” according to the report. “Supporters of an increase say it could help the state avoid borrowing. But a big question could be how much money would go into road construction …” Nashville Public Radio has more.
5. Former trucking executive makes career change
Cale Pearson, the former president and national sales director at Central Oregon Truck Co., has joined Crestcom International, a Colorado-based leadership training program, The Bulletin reports. According to the report, Pearson left Central Oregon Truck Co. in July after 13 years. The company was acquired by Texas-based Daseke Inc. in 2013, according to the report.
