Government

Federal regulators have granted refrigerated carrier C.R. England Inc. a two-year exemption from a new requirement that truck drivers with learning permits who have passed their commercial driver license skills test be accompanied by an experienced “on-duty” driver-trainer for the drive home to pick up their CDL.

Alaska’s “road to the bank” is back in operation after an 18-day closing caused by flooding off the northern slope of the Brooks Range that occurred when mid-May temperatures hit 70 degrees and much of the spring break-up of ice happened suddenly.

The House on June 9 approved spending legislation with key trucking provisions, including one that would permit twin 33-foot trailers on U.S. highways. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill now goes to the Senate.

The National Transportation Safety Board on June 8 issued a recommendation that collision avoidance systems be standard equipment on all new cars and commercial trucks.

In 1941, the Interstate Commerce Commission took the first step towards regulating truck sizes and weights at the federal level for goods moving in interstate commerce.

After immediate pushback from the trucking industry, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo altered a plan to toll commercial trucks that use the state’s bridges.

Peter Rogoff, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s under secretary, said in a June 5 letter accompanying the release of a congressionally mandated study on truck size-and-weight limits there is not sufficient data to make any recommendations.

Lawmakers rejected an amendment targeting insurance requirements during the House’s consideration of the fiscal 2016 transportation funding bill June 4.