UPS Study Cites Positive Export Outlook Among U.S. High-Tech Executives

Despite economic uncertainty at home and abroad, U.S. high-tech executives’ confidence in global trade and U.S. exports has grown significantly over the past two years, according a study commissioned by UPS Inc.

Citing legislative changes and rising labor rates overseas, 85% of executives believe the Obama administration’s National Export Initiative goal to double exports by 2014 is either “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to be achieved, compared with 40% who believed so just after the goal was set two years ago.

The findings come from UPS’ annual “Change in the (Supply) Chain” survey, conducted by IDC Manufacturing Insights. The study targeted senior-level supply chain decision makers in the U.S. high-tech/electronics industry.

And 81% of U.S. high-tech executives anticipate recent free trade agreements in Asia will increase their company’s imports and exports to and from the region.

UPS is ranked No. 1 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.

View the original article here

ATA Cites Concern with LaHood's HOS Letter

American Trucking Associations cited concern with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s recent letter to Congress that DOT is drafting a new hours-of-service proposal based on the “most comprehensive and up-to-date data and analysis.”

“There is little or no comprehensive, up-to-date evidence, data or science supporting FMCSA’s proposal,” said the letter, from ATA President CEO Bill Graves and Chairman Dan England.

“FMCSA readily admitted it did not have sufficient data on which to base a driving time limit change, yet the agency argued for and stated it ‘currently favors’ reducing [drivers’ hours-of-service] limit,” the letter said.

ATA said LaHood’s wording was “a clever way of attempting to shift the burden of proof to the industry to justify the current drive-time limit.”

In a letter last week, LaHood rebutted a move by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) to keep current hours-of-service rules in place, urging her to drop her opposition to a revised rule.

View the original article here

Study Cites More Than 18,000 Deficient Bridges

There are more than 18,000 structurally deficient bridges located in about 100 U.S. metropolitan regions, according to a new study on deteriorating infrastructure.

The deficient bridges in the 102 metropolitan regions carry three-quarters of all the traffic in the country crossing deficient bridges, said the study, published by the group Transportation for America.

“The Fix We’re In For: The State of Our Nation’s Busiest Bridges,” was released Wednesday by the group, a coalition of transportation advocates that includes builders, realtors, labor unions, senior citizen groups, environmentalists and local governments.

T4 America, as the group is known, culled its list of structurally deficient bridges from the National Bridge Inventory, a database maintained by the Federal Highway Administration.

The study found that one in every nine bridges in the country is rated structurally deficient by the FHWA, meaning the bridge needs “more frequent monitoring and critical, near-term maintenance, rehabilitation or replacement.”

View the original article here