drivers

While the ruling may be disappointing for drivers, driver groups say they are not daunted. They will continue to pursue policies to regulate working conditions at the state and municipal levels.

The trucking industry has faced a shortage of drivers for years, but the problem is compounded now with baby boomer retirements, increased freight demands and a high turnover rate.

NPR's Scott Simon talks with Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, about a driver's suicide and the financial challenges drivers face in a changing economy.

Currently, insurance rates are calculated based on drivers' claims histories and driving records. Driverless cars are expected to shift the liability toward carmakers. But it won't happen all at once.

The latest death linked to Takata air bags was the ninth in the U.S. and the tenth worldwide. It involved the crash of a Ford Ranger. Other brands being recalled include Volkswagen and Audi.

The U.S. has a chronic shortage of truck drivers — by one estimate, the trucking industry is short almost 50,000 drivers. If that number doubles as predicted, shipping disruptions will ensue.