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.
Lawmakers to Look at Legislation to Fix Hours-of-Service Rule ‘Glitch’
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill will look at legislation that would provide a short-term authorization of the Federal Aviation Administration to attach technical language pertaining to an hours-of-service rule for truckers in a fiscal 2016 funding law.
Maryland Democrats Have Plan to Restrict Governor on Transportation Decisions
The Democratic leaders of Maryland's General Assembly want to restrict the governor's power to decide what transportation projects to fund.
Rhode Island Truck-Toll Plan Still Needs FHWA Approval
Even though Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo signed RhodeWorks into law on Feb. 11, her trucks-only tolling plan still needs to be approved by the Federal Highway Administration before it can roll smoothly toward a projected opening of the 14 tolling gantries in 18 to 24 months.
Fix Roads, Bridges to Help Retain Drivers, ATA Economist Says
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Government officials should do more to reduce traffic congestion along the country’s roadways as a way to help retain drivers across the industry, American Trucking Associations Chief Economist Bob Costello said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo Proposes Slashing N.Y. Truck Registration, Decal Fees
In the wake of the Jan. 22 ruling by New York’s Supreme Court that the state's highway user registration and decal fees for trucks were unconstitutional, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Feb. 12 offered an amendment to his proposed budget that drops those fees from a combined $19 to $1.50.
ATA Working to Avoid Inadvertent Elimination of HOS Restart Rule
An omission in the fiscal 2016 omnibus funding bill would require federal regulators to eliminate an hours-of-service restart rule that took effect in 2013 if a federal study of the rule fails to show it has safety benefits, according to a spokesman for American Trucking Associations.
Mike Joyce Named ATA’s Top Legislative Advocate
Mike Joyce, announced on Feb. 16 as American Trucking Associations’ senior vice president of legislative affairs, brings a range of experience to his new position. Joyce has spent all but two of the 22-plus years since his graduation from Gettysburg College working for members of Congress or as a lobbyist for trucking concerns.
Opinion: Recruiting Should Be a Top Priority
Communication and team building are two ideas or points of emphasis that all successful transportation firms need to understand and utilize.
February 15, 2016Editorial: Section 611 Makes Good Sense
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is debating aviation policy in the form of the Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization Act, or AIRR Act, and a sliver of the 273-page bill concerns trucking.
February 15, 2016Obama Budget Would Boost Transport
New infrastructure projects would be funded through a significant new tax on oil companies, according to President Obama’s fiscal 2017 budget request.