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.
Kansas Raises Highway Overpasses to Give Trucks Clearance
Inch by inch, over about eight hours, some Kansas Turnpike overpasses are being elevated by at least a foot to make sure big freight trucks can pass underneath.
Tennessee DOT Chief Says Driverless Technology Poses Challenges for Road Planners
Self-driving vehicles present the biggest challenge for road planners since horse and buggies gave way to automobiles in the early 20th Century, Tennessee's transportation chief says.
Opinion: Coating Crucial to Stopping Tank Corrosion
In truck and rail tankers and beyond, chemically bonded phosphate ceramics can stop corrosion, improve safety, extend equipment life and minimize maintenance and downtime.
December 5, 2016President-Elect Picks Elaine Chao to Lead Transportation Dept.
Elaine Chao, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of transportation, has the endorsement of the commercial transportation sector and would bring to the job nearly a decade of experience running a federal agency.
Funding Proposal Would Last Into Late Spring, Ryan Says
Funding for government agencies is expected to go beyond March in a bid to give Trump administration officials a voice in the congressional appropriations process next year, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Dec. 1.
CTA Reminds President-Elect of Nafta Benefits
During his successful campaign for the White House, Donald Trump talked often about dismantling Nafta. In response, the Canadian Trucking Alliance is reminding the incoming American administration that 35 of the 50 states’ top trading partners are Canadian jurisdictions, creating 9 million jobs on this side of the border. Trucks carry about two-thirds of that trade.
Rep. Bill Shuster to Lead House T&I Panel in 115th Congress
House Republican leaders chose to stick with Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) as their lead transportation authorizer in the 115th Congress, allowing him to keep control of the influential Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
December 2, 2016Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Dwarfed by Estimates of Need
If President-elect Donald Trump is successful with his proposed $1 trillion, 10-year program to fix America’s disintegrating and inadequate infrastructure, the states have a list of critical projects ready for him. And while $1 trillion could be a decent down payment, it’s not nearly enough.
FMCSA Announces Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Final Rule
Federal regulatory officials on Dec. 2 announced a final rule that will create a clearinghouse that would track when a commercial driver fails a drug or alcohol test and require carriers to check an applicant against the clearinghouse database.
Trucking Adds 1,100 Jobs in November, Department of Labor Reports
For-hire trucking gained 1,100 jobs in November, while overall payrolls increased by 178,000, the Labor Department reported Dec. 2.
December 2, 2016