Here are five things worth knowing today:
1. The Department of Transportation projects that the Highway Trust Fund will run out of money for infrastructure projects in June 2016, The Hill reports. According to the report, that is six months later than previously expected. DOT said the $8 billion extension that Congress passed in July will cover payments to the states until the end of June 2016, according to The Hill.
2. U.S. Rep. Redi Ribble (R-WI) will discuss and unveil details of a new federal legislation to safely improve truck productivity during a press teleconference on Thursday, Sept. 10. The teleconference will also feature leaders from national trade associations, who will discuss the legislation and its impact on their industries. Fleet Owner will cover the conference and post more details Friday morning.
3. According to the U.S. DOT, Seattle’s industrial district in the south of the city is one of the busiest intermodal transportation hubs in the country. That area, DOT stated, is a “bustling, ocean seaport, serviced by two railroad yards and a never ending swirl of drayage trucks.” An increasing number of bicyclists and pedestrians seek connections between the area and downtown, and they are determined to find ways to protect their safety and coexist with the freight activity. DOT has more.
4. One trucking company in Nova Scotia is calling on the government to help with Canada’s driver shortage, according to a CTV News report. Michael Kenny, owner of PML Transport, told CTV that he has turned to local schools to find drivers. CTV has more.
5. UPS recently purchased 125 new hybrid electric delivery trucks, according to Street Insider. According to the report, the purchase will “deliver significant fuel economy equivalency gains – up to four times the fuel economy of a gasoline-powered vehicle, compared to 10 to 15% improvement with previous hybrid designs.” The trucks will be deployed in Arizona, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida the first half of 2016, Street Insider said.
