March 19, 2015: Trucks ruled U.S.-NAFTA freight in 2014; Seattle wants $900 million more for transpo; FedEx dismisses “Uber for freight.”
March 19, 2015
2 min read
Here is a look at what is happening in the world of transportation this morning:
- Although trucks carried almost three-fifths of U.S.-NAFTA freight last year – some 59.9% for 2014 overall– the industry’s share of that volume is down by 3.7 percentage points compared to 2004, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
- Oil prices continue to fall as an oversupply of crude continues to grow worldwide, notes Reuters.
- Seattle’s mayor wants residents to fork over an extra $900 million to pay for transportation needs, says The Seattle Times.
- Fifty years ago today a truck driver sacrificed himself in what became known as the “Banana truck crash” to ensure no other motorists or pedestrians got hurt, reports WNEP 16.
- Is the midsize pickup truck category more marketing “myth” than reality? An article in Bloomberg contends that’s the case.
- Business Insider thinks a Volkswagen-built pickup truck would be a good addition to the U.S. market.
- Ohio’s state senate passes a $7 billion transportation bill that includes a hike in interstate speeds up to 75 mph, reports the Youngstown Vindicator.
- A Connecticut state transportation committee approves electronic tolling for roadways within the Constitution State, notes CBS New York.
- Fred Smith, FedEx Corp.’s founder and chief executive, tells the Wall Street Journal that “Uber for freight” poses no threat to the current package delivery system.
About the Author
Sean Kilcarr
Editor in Chief
Sean Kilcarr is a former longtime FleetOwner senior editor who wrote for the publication from 2000 to 2018. He served as editor-in-chief from 2017 to 2018.
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