The U.S. Senate passed a bill Wednesday, March 17, that is crucial to shoring up the Highway Trust Fund through the end of the year. The legislation touted as the jobs bill, HR2847, now goes to President Obama's desk for his expected signature.

Certain truck rules in South Dakota have been toughened under legislation signed into law by Gov. Mike Rounds. Similar efforts are advancing in statehouses around the country. The changes to South Dakota law concern making sure commercial driver's licensing rules comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

A little more than a week ago, drivers for C. Bean Transport Inc. of Fort Smith, AR, were advised that the company was undergoing some "massive layoffs," but was also "restructuring." On Wednesday, March 17, Richard Bell of Bell Receivers LLC, who is the court-appointed receiver for C. Bean, announced that those layoffs would be permanent for its trucking operations.

If you are among thousands of professional truckers planning to head to Louisville for the Mid-America Trucking Show March 25-27, here are some events worth scribbling down on your calendar.

The West Virginia State Police are close to getting the go-ahead to beef up their ranks, a move that is intended to help make travel on the state's roadways safer. House lawmakers voted unanimously to sign off on Senate changes to a bill that would increase the minimum number of troopers "up to" 800 by July 2016. The bill, HB4397, now moves to Gov. Joe Manchin's desk.

Remember the TV show "Candid Camera"? One truck driver recently taped a CARB enforcement officer idling away in his vehicle as he issued an idling ticket to the trucker. Land Line Staff Writer Charlie Morasch has a copy of the video in his blog.