Unified Carrier Registration Agreement announced that the national online system for motor carriers to register and pay the fees due under UCRA is now open for 2008 carrier registrations; the website is www.ucr.in.gov. The 2008 fees and fee structure for UCRA are the same as they were in 2007. States participating in UCRA generally have agreed to begin enforcing payment of the 2008 fees on June 1.
A proposal to place a 1 percent surcharge on the sale or lease of diesel-powered vehicles in the state of Illinois, on-road and off-road, was defeated in late March. HB 5772 and SB 2083 would have applied to diesel vehicles of more than 14,000 pounds that are 2006 or older models.
Arrow Trucking Co. entered into an equipment finance agreement with Daimler Truck Financial that will help replace virtually 100 percent of its current tractor fleet over the next five years. The Tulsa, Okla.-based flatbed carrier operates more than 1,400 tractors and 2,700 trailers.
Fuel card provider Fleet One announced a partnership with Mapco Express to upgrade its Fleet Advantage program by providing reporting and consolidating billing. Mapco’s Fleet Advantage program includes 24/7 customer care, ability to make real-time account changes, additional payment options, tracking/monitoring of purchases, and no transaction fees.
Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was 4.9 percent higher in 2007 than in 2006, reaching an annual record of $797 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The 4.9 percent rate of growth from 2006 to 2007 is lower than the 8.9 percent growth from 2005 to 2006.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that freight valued at $137.0 billion entered the United States from Mexico by truck in 2007, while $93.0 billion of freight was exported to Mexico by truck. Freight valued at $150.4 billion entered the United States from Canada by truck in 2007, while $174.3 billion of freight was exported to Canada by truck.
Total North American surface transportation imports rose 4.2 percent in 2007 from 2006, and exports rose 5.8 percent during the same time period. Total North American surface transportation trade value in 2007 was up 47.4 percent compared to 2002, and up 87.2 percent compared to 1997.
U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $511 billion in 2007, up 4.6 percent compared to 2006. The value of imports carried by truck was 0.4 percent higher in 2007 than 2006, while the value of exports carried by truck was 6.1 percent higher. Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in 2007 with $77 billion.
U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $286 billion in 2007, up 5.3 percent compared to 2006. The value of imports carried by truck was 8.4 percent higher in 2007 than 2006, while the value of exports carried by truck was 0.1 percent higher. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in 2007 with $87.8 billion.
For January 2008, NATFA trade using surface transportation was 7.4 percent higher than in January 2007. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 7.0 percent in January from December. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in January was up 48.9 percent compared to January 2003, and up 89.2 percent compared to January 1998. Imports in January were up 99.7 percent compared to January 1998, while exports were up 77.2 percent.
U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade in January totaled $42.0 billion, up 8.6 percent compared to January 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 1.7 percent lower in January 2008 than in January 2007, while the value of exports carried by truck was 11.0 percent higher. Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in January with $5.3 billion.
U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade in January totaled $23.1 billion, up 5.4 percent compared to January 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 3.7 percent higher in January 2008 than in January 2007, while the value of exports carried by truck was 2.9 percent higher. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in January with $7.5 billion.
The TransBorder Freight Dataset is a special extract of the official U.S. foreign trade statistics. The data are tabulated for BTS by the U.S. Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Division. Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline; about 90 percent of U.S. merchandise trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.
ITI offers free fuel management training
Instructional Technologies Inc. (ITI) announced that it was joining the cause of saving on fuel costs by offering free to all professional drivers in the United States and Canada its Pro-Tread “Fuel Management” lesson from June 1 through June 21. ITI provides computer-based interactive driver training to the trucking industry.
ITI recently updated the fuel management lesson, taking into account the latest equipment and fuel-saving tips and techniques. Current ITI clients have been offered the half-hour lesson for free as of April 9 and will be allowed to take it again at no cost during the three-week period in June. To take advantage of this offer, drivers can visit www.protread.com and follow the sign-in instructions.
