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.
Democrats Announce T&I Committee Members
Peter DeFazio of Oregon, ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has announced the Democrats who will serve on T&I in the new Congress.
Economy Expands as Driver Shortage Continues to Constrain Capacity, Fed Says
The national economy continued to expand from late November to early January as regions reported capacity constraints from a lack of drivers, the Federal Reserve said.
January 14, 2015Rep. Huffman Pushes Bill to Replace Gas Tax
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) this week introduced a bill that would replace the diesel and gas tax with a carbon tax, the latest congressional proposal aimed at boosting transportation dollars ahead of the reauthorization of a major highway law this spring.
Driver Shortage, Truck Parking in New Resiliency Definition
WASHINGTON — Transportation officials have expanded the scope of their resiliency planning beyond infrastructure to such issues as how to make trucking more adaptable to driver shortages and inadequate truck parking, said a top official at the Federal Highway Administration.
Freight Transportation Index Rises to Record Level for Second Month
The Department of Transportation’s freight transportation services index rose to an all-time high for the second consecutive month in November, DOT said Jan. 14.
January 14, 2015Commercial Truck Safety Makes NTSB’s Most Wanted List
WASHINGTON — Strengthening commercial truck safety has made it onto the Most Wanted List of policies and actions issued annually by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Foxx to Release Framework for Transportation Policy
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation is preparing to release in the coming weeks what Secretary Anthony Foxx is calling a “framework” for the nation’s transportation system over the coming 30 years.
FMCSA to Award Contract for HOS Study This Month, Senior Official
WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration plans to name a research firm later this month that would conduct its yearlong review of a new hours-of-service rule suspended through the end of September, a senior agency official said Jan. 13.
Shuster Names Missouri’s Graves to Head Highway Subcommittee
Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) has been selected to head the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Foxx Comfortable With Decision to Open Border to Mexican Trucks
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said his department had plenty of information under which to justify opening the U.S. border to Mexican trucks despite a report from the Inspector General that said there were too few participants in a pilot program to determine if all Mexican trucks were safe enough to run U.S. roads.