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.
Vermont Boosts Spending on Roads
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin didn’t do the usual thing when it came to signing his state’s transportation budget June 2. Instead of a ceremony inside the state Capitol in Montpelier, Shumlin turned the $612.5 million bill passed by the Legislature into law at a construction site on Interstate 89.
Seat Belts Required for Passengers in Large Trucks Starting Aug. 8
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a final rule in the Federal Register on June 7 requiring that all passengers traveling in property-carrying commercial motor vehicles wear seat belts.
Brokers Split Over How to Ensure Carrier Compliance With ELD Mandate
Freight brokers are sharply divided about how to bring their carriers into line with the upcoming federal electronic logging device mandate.
Opinion: Election Brings New Challenges for Trucking
As chairman of the American Truck Dealers, the challenge for all of us — truck manufacturers, trucking companies and dealers — is to build relationships with members of Congress and federal regulators so that we have a voice in shaping the environment in which our businesses operate.
June 6, 2016Editorial: Roadcheck’s Here Again
Once again, commercial vehicle drivers are taking their annual open-book test — International Roadcheck — from June 7 to June 9. About 10,000 inspectors who are members of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will fan out across the United States, Canada and Mexico with the goal of inspecting more than 70,000 vehicles in 72 hours.
June 6, 2016Delays in Approving Hair Testing Aid Drug Abusers, Officials Warn
Delays in adopting federally mandated pre-employment hair drug-testing standards potentially have allowed hundreds of truck drivers who failed hair drug tests to drive for another carrier, according to fleet and medical executives.
Trucking May Become Collateral Damage in New Container Rule
Truckers servicing U.S. seaports already experience delays entering the ports and making pickups or dropping off loads at terminals, but they’ll soon face yet another potential disruption.
Schneider Acquires Watkins & Shepard
Truckload carrier Schneider last week announced the acquisition of less-than-truckload specialist Watkins & Shepard Trucking and final-mile delivery carrier Lodeso Inc. to capitalize on trucking opportunities related to fast-growing e-commerce.
Democrats Press McConnell to Fix Pensions
Senate Democrats are pressuring Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to take up pension legislation for truckers and miners before the summer recess that begins in six weeks.
Used-Truck Prices Dip; Inventories Stabilize
The price of a used Class 8 truck sold in April fell compared with a year earlier, but inventories stabilized after rising for the past year, analysts said.