Today's Trucking Staff

DTOPS cross-border contingency plan ended

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection has finally cleared up the backlog of Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) renewals and as of this week has suspended the carrier user fee contingency plan that was in place for the last three months.

Between Barack and a hard place

TORONTO -- The new American president and Congress aren't alone in their protectionist sentiments, according to a UPS-sponsored survey of small and medium sized (SME) businesses in Canada.

Fourth Time’s a Charm? Special interests fight truck hours – again

WASHINGTON -- Hoping to have better luck with an administration that's perhaps more friendly to their interests, a familiar coalition of lobby groups is taking yet another swipe at the American hours-of-service rules.

Mariachi plays on for Mexican trucks?

WASHINGTON -- Immediately after signing a bill that effectively kills the 18-month old, cross-border Mexican truck project, U.S. president Obama signified that he's willing to bring it back in a different form.

Auto exports lowest since 1992; trade gap widening

OTTAWA -- Both exports and imports fell in January, led by a sharp decline in automotive products trade.

Plan for a twinned Ambassador Bridge advances

DETROIT -- Less than a month after initially denying funding, the Michigan Strategic Fund has approved up to $787 million to build a second span of the Ambassador Bridge.

Ontario southbound truck crossings plummet

WINDSOR, Ont. -- Cross-border trucking is in sharp decline between Canada and the U.S., according to the most recent statistics on international land movements.

Ole! Mexico fights back against cross-border cancellation

WASHINGTON -- Mexico is retaliating for last week's actions by U.S. Congress that cut off funding for pilot program that allowed a select number of Mexican carriers access to U.S. highways.

DRIC says truck route legit, despite critical memo

WINDSOR, Ont. -- The environmental lawyer for the City of Windsor is blasting the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) study team for what he claims are "numerous inconsistencies and errors" in its environmental assessment for the proposed truck route and plaza leading to a new bridge crossing in Windsor, Ont.

Truck tonnage rises slightly, but ATA stresses caution

WASHINGTON -- The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index edged 1.7 percent higher in February 2009, marking the second consecutive month-to-month increase.

LA port officials distort purpose of ATA suit: Truckers

LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Boyce, American Trucking Associations vice president of public affairs, criticized officials of the City of Los Angeles, the Port of Los Angeles and the Natural Resources Defense Council for misleading the public and press about the purpose and results of ATA's lawsuit against the Concession Plans of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Skepticism surrounds upcoming border ID requirements

WASHINGTON -- If there's one thing that's certain about the new upcoming cross-border identification requirements it's uncertainty.

Canadian officials nervous over US-Mex trade bitterness

OTTAWA -- Canadian Trade Minister Stockwell Day is watching closely the trade rift growing between the U.S. and Mexico, hoping the protectionist blowback doesn't drift north.

OOIDA asks Obama to scrap Mexican truck project indefinitely

WASHINGTON -- The largest owner-op group in the U.S. doesn't want to see a new Mexican cross-border program anytime soon.

TSA warns truckers of border dangers

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- With drug-related violence escalating along stretches of the U.S.-Mexican border, the Transportation Security Administration is warning truckers to be careful when crossing or making deliveries in the area.