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Drayage truckers are struggling with complex record-keeping requirements in the new federal intermodal chassis maintenance rules that have begun to take effect, industry experts said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The U.S. trucking industry is falling behind its international counterparts in switching to higher-productivity vehicles

The world’s largest ocean container shipping company, Maersk Line, said it will begin charging leasing fees to local truckers who use their intermodal chassis, which traditionally have been free.

WASHINGTON — House transportation leaders appeared isolated last week, as several prominent senators endorsed a bid by the Obama administration to postpone working on a major surface transportation-funding bill until 2010.

There are some good safety points that should be considered, including a “graduated” commercial driver license, but it makes no sense for new CDL drivers to be transporting hazardous materials, oversize loads or double and triple trailers until they have accumulated 100,000 or more accident-free miles driving a commercial vehicle.

We need to be leery of the battle involving the Obama administration, the Senate and the House of Representatives over the direction of federal transportation policy out of concern that political bickering could delay necessary decisions and infrastructure projects.

At one time or another, every business finds itself undercapitalized. Unfortunately, in these tough economic times, qualifying for a line of credit can be extremely difficult. As a result, increasing numbers of transportation companies are looking into factoring, with many of them taking the plunge and selling their accounts receivable to a factor.

Ryder System said it has been certified as a third-party logistics provider in the Custom-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program, an initiative that seeks to promote supply chain security and reduce border vulnerabilities.