Trucking fleets will be hard-pressed to find quality drivers as new safety requirements are implemented. Top fleet managers offer tips on recruiting and keeping the best talent. Drivers are looking for pay, benefits, home time and respect.
Congress is proposing a fee of up to $9 per new vehicle to fund auto safety programs. The call for safety reform comes on the heels of Toyota's recall woes. The proposed measure gives NHTSA new authority and would increase its enforcement budget.
Texting while driving dropped when California implemented a ban, but now an Auto Club study says the activity is on the rise again. Officials call the results "disappointing" and say additional efforts are needed to deal with the problem.
The new generation of smartphones brings numerous capabilities to the car. Ford's Sync allows drivers to connect an iPhone, but the driver must use voice commands to reduce driver distraction. GM's OnStar is also shifting features to smartphones. Critics still doubt that integrating smartphones will improve safety.
Analysts say April auto sales are likely to be 20% higher than last year. That would put the seasonally adjusted annual rate at 11.4 million. Toyota numbers are expected to surge for a second month following strong incentives. Fleet sales are also anticipating a big boost.