Government
Transport Topics government and regulatory coverage keeps managers of a highly-regulated industry aware of the policy decisions that can shape their businesses. Covering both the legislative and regulatory aspects of policy-making, at both the state and national levels, the news in this category includes looks at infrastructure, hours of service, emissions rules, funding measures, leadership appointments, and more. Readers can follow what’s happening in Congress, at the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, and in state and local governments.
'Get Something Done’ on Infrastructure Funding Before Next Spring, Rep Bill Shuster Says
WASHINGTON — The top transportation authorizer in the House offered a more precise timeline for when members of Congress should look to advance a long-term infrastructure funding package.
PrePass Expands Further Into Texas
PrePass transponders now can pay tolls at facilities run by the Texas Department of Transportation, North Texas Tollway Authority and the Harrison County Toll Road Authority, Help Inc. announced.
March 21, 2017Capitol Agenda for the Week of March 21: Bridges Aren't Making the Grade
The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation's bridges a grade of C+ in its quadrennial report card. ASCE's Tom Smith and ARTBA's Alison Black hope it doesn't take a disaster to get Congress to invest in infrastructure repairs. Watch separate video interviews, part of the week ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill.
Despite Mandate, Hair Testing Rule Still Months Away
A proposed rule that would allow trucking companies to conduct government-certified pre-employment drug testing using hair samples likely will not be publicly released until the end of 2017 or early 2018, according to a top official with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Indiana DOT Awards Contracts for I-70 Upgrades
Repair work to highway lanes and bridges along the Interstate 70 freight corridor east of Indianapolis is expected to last through the end of the year, the state Department of Transportation announced this month.
Idaho Transportation Department to Hold Hearings On Heavier Trucks
The Idaho Transportation Department will hold public hearings next week to take comments on allowing trucks up to 129,000 pounds on U.S. Highway 95 and sections of state Highways 3 and 8 in Latah County.
Letters: Entry-Level Driver Training, Cost Containment
Readers discuss the regulatory side of entry-level driver training and the best way to maximize profit is containing costs.
March 20, 2017Editorial: A Useful Discussion on Safety
Last week, we cheered the apparent demise of a federal regulatory provision regarding hours of service. Now we’d like to salute a positive development: a recent discussion on truck safety before a Senate subcommittee.
March 20, 2017Opinion: Effectively Utilizing Telematics Solutions
The electronic logging device mandate for tracking hours of service has brought a lot of attention to truck telematics, and many experts are providing advice on how to prepare for that transition. But one aspect of telematics that few are addressing is how underutilized most existing systems are. In my estimate, only three in 10 fleets are utilizing their telematics system to the max.
March 20, 2017160 US Carrier Bankruptcies Idle 4,510 Trucks in 4th Quarter
The freight-hauling capacity of at least 4,510 heavy-duty U.S. trucks evaporated during the last three months of 2016 as 160 fleets shuttered their doors and quit the industry, according to a study by investment firm Avondale Partners.