December 4, 2014: Airbag recall may go national; Senator wants “chameleon” truckers targeted; Truck shortcut creating traffic headache

Here is a look at what is happening in the world of transportation this morning:

• Japanese airbag maker Takata may be finally getting ready to issue a long-urged U.S.-wide recall, notes Autoblog, though the five deaths linked to date to its safety device occurred only in Honda vehicles.
• Mark Rosekind, nominated to head up NHTSA, faces a long uphill battle in terms of restoring the agency’s reputation as a “safety enforcer,” reports The Detroit News.
• Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wants to beef up federal efforts to crackdown on what he calls “chameleon” trucking companies, according to the Ithaca Journal.
• Trucking firms in the Bakken shale region are trying out dual-fuel vehicles that run on both natural gas and diesel to cut operating costs, reports The Bakken Magazine.
• Trucking’s capacity crunch is re-emphasizing the importance of supply chain management, notes the World Property Journal.
• Trucks taking short cuts are exacerbating traffic issues in small towns near the U.S.-Canadian border, notes KING 5 TV.
• Demand for light trucks continues to keep automotive sales revving at a high level, reports USA Today.
• Chrysler is recalling nearly 150,000 older model light trucks to replace Takata-made airbags, according to The Detroit News.
• Tennessee’s Governor believes a gas tax hike is going to “eventually” happen, reports National Public Radio.