1967:
The Department of Transportation was created.
1980:
The Motor Carrier Act of 1980 partially deregulated the trucking industry. Over the decade, trucking competition became fierce. Hundreds of new carriers popped up.
1982:
The Surface Transportation Act of 1982 set uniform size and weight limits for the trucking industry. Under the Act, trucks that use interstate highways could not exceed 80,000 pounds.
Ten years after deregulation, one third of the largest 100 trucing companies went out of business.