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American Trucking Associations said the Department of Transportation, in designing its hours-of-service proposal, ignored most of the 62 executive orders and legislative mandates in place to guide the development of sound rulemakings and underestimated the costs to the industry.

The Motor Freight Carriers Association said it would be better for the less-than-truckload sector to continue working under the current 63-year-old rules governing drivers than adopt the revisions to the hours of service proposed by the Department of Transportation.

Motor carriers that are delinquent in paying fines levied by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will be taken off the road, under a rule that goes into effect April 16.

In the news this morning: Bush schedules afternoon news conference; OPEC members continue push for production cuts; DaimlerChrysler to invest in fuel-cell technology; and more.

TTNews.com will be closed Monday, Jan. 2, for the New Year's holiday. Please check back on Tuesday, Jan. 3, for the latest trucking and freight transportation news.

This afternoon's headlines: FedEx finalizes American Freightways purchase; Dorsey Trailers seeking more short-term cash; temporary deal keeps LTV's steel mills running for now; and more.

Today's technology headlines: Changing warehouses into Web houses; redefining e-business through connectivity; GPS finds a home in onboard automotive systems; and more.

TTNews.com will be closed Monday in observance of the New Year's Day holiday. Please check back on Tuesday, Jan. 2, for the latest trucking and freight transportation news.

A new set of standards on cargo tiedown and securement could be in force as early as July 1, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

When Bush-appointed officials settle into their new posts at the Department of Transportation, a top priority should be to improve the effectiveness of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, said DOT Inspector General Kenneth Mead.