Senate Panel Approves Highway Bill With Intermodal Equipment Measure

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he Senate took another step toward passing its version of multiyear transportation legislation as the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved its portion of the highway bill Thursday.

The bill included a provision that would make owners of intermodal equipment responsible for its safety and maintenance. It also allowed exemptions for some truck drivers from hours-of-service rules, but did not write into law, or codify, HOS revisions, despite a request to do so by the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The bill approved included “an average annual level of funding of $200 million” for the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program overseen by FMCSA.

It also would require the agency to “establish a medical review board to provide . . . medical advice and recommendations” to FMCSA. Annette Sandberg, the agency’s administrator, had pressed the Senate for such a board.

For the full story, see the April 18 edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.