Fuel and government sanctions concern the trucking industry

Fuel prices continue to soar as trucking companies and lawmakers look for ways to implement changes to reduce the cost. The industry faces many changes that may require expensive upfront price such as electronic on-board recorders.

Trucking firms and industry executives recently met with U.S. Rep. Greg Walden in Phoenix, Oregon to discuss the issues that impact the sector faces in regards to relief from runaway gas prices and other costly proposals, the Mail Tribune reports.

Furthermore, many trucking company owners and drivers say that the recent regulations may be a burden on the industry as whole.

"Besides fuel prices, there is heat from regulatory agencies, the demands on small business, the unreachable clear air standards," Jair Robinson, owner of Robinson Transport, told the news source. "It is the poorest business anyone could get into now. It used to be fun to go to work every morning."

Safety directors may wish to enroll their operators in truck driving safety classes to help prepare them for the new government regulations.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average diesel price across the U.S. is $4.10, which represents a $1.03 increase from last year.

By Anna Byrne

Fuel and government sanctions concern the trucking industry

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011