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.
Treasury Chief to Senate Panel: Use Private Capital in Infrastructure
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on Feb. 5 said he hoped Congress and the Obama administration would agree on proposals to expand private investments to pay for major infrastructure projects around the country.
CVSA Reports Results of Operation Safe Driver
The top five warnings and citations issued to commercial motor vehicle drivers during a law-enforcement campaign in October, respectively, were for speeding, failure to use a safety belt, failure to obey traffic control devices, improper lane changes and following too closely, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance said Feb. 5.
House Bill Would Revive State Infrastructure Banks
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House would allow states to capitalize infrastructure banks with federal money to help underwrite local transportation projects.
Blumenauer Bill Would Raise Fuel Taxes; ATA’s Graves Touts Approach
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, held a press conference Feb. 4 to announce he has reintroduced the bill he put forth last year that would increase fuel taxes to pay for upgrading the nation’s aging transportation system.
Virginia Tech Chosen to Lead FMCSA Restart Study
Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute has been chosen to conduct the federal government’s study on the 34-hour restart rule.
Senate Bill Would Provide Tax Equity For LNG
Republican and Democratic senators have reintroduced their bill to create tax equity for carriers that use liquefied natural gas.
Mark Gagnon Named Board Chairman of Connecticut Trucking Group
Mark Gagnon, president of Capitol Moving and Storage of South Windsor, Connecticut, was recently installed as the chairman of the board of the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut.
FMCSA Wants to Query Carriers About Relationship of Pay to Safety
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced that it is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget to query carriers on the relationship of safety and current driver compensation practices.
Services Industries Grew at a Faster Pace in January
Service industries expanded at a faster pace in January, a sign of progress in the biggest part of the economy that will help the U.S. work through a global slowdown.
API Chief Jack Gerard: Infrastructure Priorities Transcend Politics
Jack Gerard, executive director of the Washington-based American Petroleum Institute, told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 3 to put aside political differences and agree on long-term funding programs that modernize the country’s aging transportation network.