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.
September Was Wisconsin’s Safest in 70 Years
Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation reported Oct. 4 that the state’s 45 traffic deaths in September were the fewest in that month since the end of World War II.
Rural Indiana Counties Split $80 Million in Federal Transportation Grants
Indiana officials in Pike, Greene and Knox Counties will be cashing in on millions of dollars in infrastructure improvements funded through federal transportation funds.
NTSB Slams FMCSA, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in Wake of Fatal 2015 Crash
More stringent drug testing and an expanded examination of truck drivers’ records behind the wheel could have prevented the June 25, 2015, crash that killed six people and injured four others, the National Transportation Safety Board said Oct. 4.
States Receive $20 Million in Pipeline Safety Grants
Grants totaling $20 million will be distributed to state agencies so they may improve their strategies for dealing with transportation accidents involving hazardous materials, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration announced Oct. 3.
October 4, 2016Chris Christie Announces Deal for 23-Cent Gas Tax Increase for N.J.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Sept. 30 announced a deal with Democratic legislative leaders to add 23 cents per gallon to New Jersey’s 14.5-cent gasoline-tax levy and reduce consumer taxes elsewhere.
California Rail Transit Authority Blocks Tanker Deliveries
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Authority, or SMART, prevented a North Coast freight operator from delivering a dozen more railcars filled with an estimated 396,000 gallons of flammable gas to a storage site south of Sonoma, escalating tensions between the rail agencies.
Darling Says Final Rule is Near for Driver Training, Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
LAS VEGAS — A final rule for minimum entry-level driver training requirements and a drug-and-alcohol clearinghouse final rule are being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget and are expected to be published in the Federal Register by the end of the year, the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said in a speech here.
Price of Diesel Fuel Rises 0.7¢ to $2.389
The U.S. retail diesel average price rose 0.7 cent to $2.389 a gallon Oct. 3 and follows a decline of the same amount the previous week, the Department of Energy reported.
October 3, 2016Atlanta Fed Downgrades Third Quarter GDP View
NEW YORK — The U.S. economy is on track to grow at a 2.2% annualized rate in the third quarter, the Atlanta Federal Reserve's GDP Now forecast model showed Sept. 30, following data that showed a surprise drop in construction spending in August.
Colorado State Patrol Cracks Down on Unsafe Trucking Operations
The Colorado State Patrol found nearly 100 violations during an operation in the Platteville, Colorado, aimed at identifying truckers and trucking companies that weren’t in compliance with safety rules.
October 3, 2016