Diesel Prices Stabilize

After three weeks of increase, the national average retail price of a gallon of diesel dipped this week, falling 0.9 cent to $2.87, according to the Department of Energy.

Over the previous three weeks, the U.S. average price had gained 15.3 cents.

Prices across the U.S. regions were mixed, as California, the West Coast, the Gulf Coast, the Midwest, Central Atlantic and New England declined in price, while the overall East Coast, Rocky Mountain area and Lower Atlantic states were up slightly

The cheapest place to buy diesel is in the Rocky Mountain region at $2.827, while New England is the most expensive area for fuel at $3.065. The Central Atlantic area is also over $3 a gallon.

For state-by-state diesel prices, updated daily, click here.

ATA Seeks to Identufy HOS Documents

The American Trucking Associations is seeking clarification of what documents carriers must keep to prove hours-of-service compliance. The effort is part of a lawsuit ATA filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Click here to read more.

HOS Sessions Begin

The first of four public listening sessions to gather information for a proposed hours of service rule by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will be Tuesday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST in Arlington, Va. The session will be at the Doubletree Hotel Crystal City National Airport

Click here to read more.

NTSB Pushes for Sleep Apnea Program

The National Transportation Safety Board wants the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to begin a program to identify commercial drivers at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, and if treatment is required, show that it is has been conducted.

Click here to read more and to register.

 

Mandating Healthier Truck Drivers: FMCSA Considers Tightening Medical Standards

Next up in federal regulation of truck drivers: tougher restrictions on physical qualifications for the job, possibly including mandatory testing for sleep apnea.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is working on a proposal to update rules on conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to sleep disorders, based on recommendations from medical experts.

Click here to read more and to register.