Top 10 Trucking News Stories of the Year

2018 was a year of new technologies and new regulations for the trucking industry and our 10 most popular news stories of the year covered the gamut. From potential hours of service changes to the legalization of marijuana to global trade deals, we covered it all to keep our readers informed throughout the year.

Here are the top 10 most read new stories of the year on truckinginfo.com:

1. FMCSA Launches Potential Hours of Service Rule Reform

The FMCSA has begun a rulemaking process that potentially could reform four specific areas of current hours-of-service regulations, which limit the operating hours of commercial truck drivers.

2. New Personal Conveyance Guidance Gives Flexibility to Find Truck Parking

The FMCSA  announced regulatory guidance that gives drivers a way to deal with one of the most vexing problems with the electronic logging device mandate – finding a safe place to park for the night – as well as clarification for ag haulers on the 150-air-mile exemption.

3. Trucking Group to Challenge California Supreme Court's Independent Contractor Ruling

The Western States Trucking Association plans to challenge a California Supreme Court ruling that it says will effectively end the use of trucking owner-operators in the state.

4. 7 Things You Need to Know About Upcoming CSA Changes

FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability enforcement regime has been under attack for numerous shortcomings since it rolled out in 2010. Now, CSA is being significantly revamped on recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences. We have some highlights on what to expect.

5. House Bill Aims to Bend 14-Hour Clock for Truck Drivers

A proposed bill would allow truck drivers a daily break of up to 3 consecutive hours that would not eat into the 14-hour on-duty allotment afforded them by federal Hours of Service rules.

6. Panel Explores Legalized Marijuana Impacts on Trucking Industry

Trucking is caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to marijuana, between public opinion and increasingly liberal state laws on cannabis use on one hand, and a federal government that classifies marijuana as one of the most dangerous illegal drugs on the other.

7. EPA Aims to Cut NOx Emissions from Heavy-Duty Trucks

The EPA announced it will launch a rulemaking to further cut the emission of nitrogen oxide from diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks. EPA said it intends to publish a proposed NOx rule in early 2020.

8. J.B. Hunt Settles Truck Driver Wage Lawsuit for $15 Million

J.B. Hunt has reportedly settled a class-action driver wage lawsuit for $15 million after fighting the claims for more than a decade, a suit that has been cited in recent debates over when federal rules regarding driver work should pre-empt state regulations.

9. NAFTA Deal Seen as Good News for Trucking

The new trilateral free-trade deal announced is allowing North American trucking operations to breathe easy again.

10. 6 Trucking Transportation Trends for Now and the Future

John Larkin, investment banker and longtime transportation investment research analyst, outlined the trends he’s seeing in freight transportation, many of which are being driven by the evolution of the retail supply chain.