In a continued effort to promote the benefits of natural gas vehicles for commercial truck fleets, Ryder System is offering businesses in the Sacramento, CA, area an opportunity to test drive alternative fuel trucks free for three days.

In its current form, FMCSA’s CSA safety rating program has inaccuracies, arbitrary weightings, no due process and is unfair to small business, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. (OOIDA) testified in a July 11 hearing held by the U.S House Committee on Small Business.

Researchers in India have developed a technology that not only jams cell phone calls while a vehicle is in motion, but can report a driver's attempt to use their mobile communication devices to the authorities.

The technology, based on RFIDs, is aimed at preventing truck drivers and other road users from using their cell phones while driving and could also be integrated with police traffic monitoring, developers said.

An accident at a U.S. Postal distribution center in Urbandale, IA, that killed a truck driver could have been prevented, according to an employee at the Des Moines Network Distribution Center where the accident occurred.

Carl Magee, 46, of Pekin, Ill., reportedly was run over by his own tractor-trailer after it slipped out of gear at a loading dock last Thursday. Police said Magee’s rig started to roll north through the center’s parking lot. The truck driver reportedly jumped onto the rig in an attempt to stop it.

The New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (PBA) announced they will conduct air monitoring at the Peace Bridge to assess how reducing traffic congestion at the span connecting the U.S. and Canada affects air quality. The monitoring will assess air quality prior to prospective renovations to the plaza as well as after improvements, which are designed to reduce congestion, are complete. Monitoring is expected to start in August.

Old Dominion Freight Line has expanded operations by opening new service centers in Pensacola, FL, and Orange, CA.

A 64-door facility was opened on a four-acre site at 640 W. Taft St. in Orange, CA. Strategically located to railroad heads, ports and highways, including Interstate 5 and California Highways 22, 55, 57 and 91, the center will help serve increased freight traffic in southern California, the company said.