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The Daily Dash: Election concerns, tolls and under-21 drivers

ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said that if the association is unable to win its legal battle with Rhode Island over truck-only tolls, other states may follow suit. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, with the Nov. 3 election quickly approaching, the trucking industry has a lot at stake, including whether the nation’s crumbling infrastructure can be improved. Plus, ATA President and CEO Chris Spear says the group must win its legal battle against Rhode Island over truck-only tolls, and the FMCSA’s under-21 military truck driver pilot program is struggling to find participants.

Election to shape the road ahead

It’s not just an election for president happening next week, but also congressional seats across the country. The outcome of those elections will go a long way toward deciding the course the country takes for key programs such as infrastructure.

John Gallagher digs into what’s at stake on Nov. 3: Road ahead for trucking infrastructure hinges on Nov. 3

The toll stops here

American Trucking Associations president and CEO sees stopping truck-only tolls in Rhode Island as a major fight that the association must win.


John Kingston explains why: Rhode Island truck-only tolls a key battleground going into 2021: ATA’s Spear

 Under-21 CDL pilot struggling

A program designed to increase the ranks of truck drivers under the age of 21 is struggling to get enough participants to acquire any meaningful data.

John Gallagher explains: FMCSA ‘struggling’ with under-21 CDL pilot for military vets

Trucker fights for his son’s survival

Independent owner-operator Howard Salmon’s son, Liam, who turns 5 on Thursday, is battling a rare pediatric brain tumor with no cure.


Clarissa Hawes has the Salmons’ story: Holding on to hope: Trucker’s young son battles terminal brain cancer

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Amazon to open robotics fulfillment center in central Texas

Did you miss this?

Freight volumes, rejections and spot rates have all declined from near-historic highs in the past few weeks, but it could be just a lull before a red-hot holiday season kicks off.


Andrew Cox explains in this week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: Carriers cruising into red-hot holiday season

Hammer down, everyone,

Brian Straight

Managing Editor

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Brian Straight.

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Brian Straight

Brian Straight leads FreightWaves' Modern Shipper brand as Managing Editor. A journalism graduate of the University of Rhode Island, he has covered everything from a presidential election, to professional sports and Little League baseball, and for more than 10 years has covered trucking and logistics. Before joining FreightWaves, he was previously responsible for the editorial quality and production of Fleet Owner magazine and fleetowner.com. Brian lives in Connecticut with his wife and two kids and spends his time coaching his son’s baseball team, golfing with his daughter, and pursuing his never-ending quest to become a professional bowler. You can reach him at [email protected].