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.
In Russia, a Protest Against Putin Rises From an Unlikely Source: Truckers
STUPINO, Russia — Like most Russians, the truck drivers parked up at the Doughnuts roadside cafeteria south of Moscow care little for opposition politics, but a new government policy has made them rethink their attitudes toward Vladimir Putin.
New Jersey Democrats Support Pairing Higher Gas Tax With Cuts
Democrats who control the New Jersey Legislature are ready to back a proposal to increase the state’s gasoline tax in exchange for cutting other levies.
December 8, 2015Rep. Duckworth: Congress Must ‘Develop a Truly Sustainable and Long-Term’ Funding Fix for Transportation
WASHINGTON — Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said her congressional colleagues should use the next five years to come up with a long-term funding fix for transportation projects.
Foxx Announces Smart City Challenge
Cities with populations between 200,000 and 850,000 can compete for $50 million in transportation funding in the Smart City Challenge, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced on Dec. 7.
NHTSA Issues Proposed Rule to Upgrade Rear Impact Guard Standard
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Dec. 7 issued a proposed rule to upgrade current rear impact guards on trucks and trailers to address underride protection in car crashes into trailers and semitrailers.
VIDEO: What Are the Key Trucking Provisions in the Highway Funding Bill?
TT's Eugene Mulero and Stephanie Beasley of Bloomberg BNA discuss the key provisions impacting trucking in the five-year highway bill signed into law Dec. 4 in a preview of this week's Capitol Agenda.
December 7, 2015House, Senate OK Final Version of Five-Year Highway Bill
Congress approved a final version of a five-year, $305 billion highway reauthorization bill that would call on trucking regulators to fix a controversial safety performance scoring program for motor carriers long criticized by industry leaders.
National Coalition Begins Search for Solutions to Truck Parking Problems Across the Country
The National Truck Parking Coalition met for the first time last month in hopes of coming up with solutions to the nationwide shortage of truck parking.
IFTA Approves Changes to Auditing Procedures
Members of IFTA Inc. approved major changes to some of the fuel tax organization’s documents in a bid to provide truck fleets and government auditors greater clarity on standards as well as increase similarities with truck and trailer registration and allow for easier use of in-cab technology.
FMCSA Quick to Remove CSA Scores From Public View
Only minutes after President Obama signed the highway transportation bill Dec. 4, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration pulled from public view much of the agency’s information on property motor carriers’ Compliance, Safety, Accountability scores.