DOT Awards $900 Million in Build Grants
Overall, the U.S. Department of transportation would receive 86.2 billion, a decrease of about $324 million from 2019enacted level. Recruiting and keeping drivers remain a difficult task for carriers, but several experts said that a strong social media approach improves both tasks.

Top News: House Oks Fiscal 2020 Transportation Funding Bill.
Funding for freight safety programs would be increased and infrastructure grants would receive $1 billion under fiscal 2020 legislation the U.S. House of representatives advanced Dec. 17.

Truck Orders to Plunge, GDP to Fall Lower, Diesel Prices to Rise in 2020.
DAT Solutions, which operates a load board , forecast truck availability to be more constrained in 2020 compared with 2019, and anticipates a rebound in spot market rates- with van rates up 4% to 6% in the second half of 2020.

China to Buy $52 Billion of Additional US Energy Products.
China agreed to buy 52 billion of additional U. S. energy products as a landmark trade deal signed by the world’s top economic superpowers.

US, China Sign Deal That Aims to Simmer Long-Running Trade Tensions
President Donald Trump signed a Trade agreement Jan. 15 with China that is expected to boost exports from U. S. farmers and manufactures and is aimed at lowering tensions in a long- running dispute between the economic powers.

The National Association of the Deaf is petitioning the FMCSA to remove the requirement for interstate truckers to be able to hear. Love’s reopen its Tacoma, Washington store, which has been closed since September 2018for renovations.

Good news for Truckers: The company Avalanche is selling the Big Rig Rake or Truc Brush for truckers to clean snow off the top of their Trucks to avoid being fined in the states where snow on the of the trailer to prevent ice buildup.

Latest news: NYC to cut truck delivery congestion in New York with new cargo bikes.
For the next six months, UPS, Amazon, DHL and other package delivery companies will be allowed to park in commercial loading zones usually reserved for just commercial trucks and will not be required to pay meters for parking there during deliveries.

News Of the Day: Truckers Hail Deal on USMCA Trade Agreement:
Arlington, Va., Dec. 10 2019/PRNewswire/ Today, American Trucking Association leaders hailed an agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada that paves the way for USMCA’s ratification in Congress. ” Now with a clear path to USMCA’s ratification this is an historic victory…[Read more]

Good news from DAT: Van rates jumped up to $1.94 per mile from Dec. 2-8.
What can we expect in 2020? With all the uncertainty swirling around the year ahead, it can be tough to find your footing. Trade wars, oil prices, and elections have left many analysts wrestling with this question. Nothing is crystal clear to what Trucking industry will be…[Read more]

Latest News: Demand still exceeds capacity for all trailer types DAT Barometers
Good news: Fleets demonstrate impressive mpg in regional haul operation.

News: A Facebook rumor about white vans is spreading fear across America. Terrifying rumors initially propelled by Facebook’s algorithms have sparked fears that men driving white vans are kidnapping women all across the United States for sex trafficking and sell their body parts.

Latest News: FMCSA delays driver training implementation until 2022.
Rather than roll out the entry-level driver training in phases, as proposed earlier this year. FMCSA has opted to delay the entire rule until 2022.

Dat Load Board for Truckers/ 1 Million New Loads Daily.
Shippers moving goods in time for Black Friday and coming weeks gave a boost to load post last week. Spot reefer volumes are up and so are rates.

Good news for the transportation Industry for the next two months: Shippers, Carriers shift into high gear for Cyber Monday. The holiday shopping season has start predictions are the holiday shopping season is here, and the big e-commerce day is expected to make shippers, carriers very busy.