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.
DOT's Foxx Opposes HOS Suspension in Funding Bill
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx urged the top congressional appropriators on Dec. 4 not to include a provision that would suspend a “34-hour restart” trucking regulation in a large funding bill currently under consideration.
Trade Gap Little Changed as Imports, Exports Increase
The trade deficit was little changed in October as an improving U.S. economy caused imports to climb to a record while exports also rose.
December 5, 2014Video: Sen. Jay Rockefeller's Farewell Address to Senate
Watch as Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), the chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, delivers his farewell address on the Senate floor Dec. 4.
December 4, 2014Sen. Schumer Calls for Crackdown on 'Chameleon Carriers’
The trucking industry’s federal safety regulator must continue to improve its detection of carriers that operate under a new name to avoid safety violations, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Dec. 4.
House OKs Restoration of Tax Breaks
The House has passed a bill that could give the trucking industry hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks this year for everything from buying new trucks to using natural gas.
NHTSA Nominee Mark Rosekind Tells Senators He Brings ‘Fresh Set of Eyes’
Mark Rosekind, the Obama administration’s pick to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told a Senate panel Dec. 3 his tenure as an investigator of national accidents has prepared him to tackle major safety issues.
Natural Gas Proponents Outline Challenges for Senate
Trucking and natural-gas industry witnesses told a Senate panel Dec. 3 that Congress could spur the use of the alternative fuel in the transportation sector by changing the tax code, subsidizing a fueling network and addressing existing weight restrictions on highways.
Video: Obama Doesn't See Congress Passing Long-Term Highway Funding Fix
President Obama told chief executives on Dec. 3 he doubts congressional leaders will be able to advance a long-term comprehensive transportation measure next year, approving instead a short-term highway funding fix.
Supreme Court Hears Arguments in UPS Pregnancy Discrimination Case
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 3 heard oral arguments in a high-profile UPS case that may provide guidance for employers on whether they must provide “light duty” jobs or otherwise accommodate pregnant employees unable to perform their normal job duties.
Eno Center Proposes Fixes for Highway Trust Fund
WASHINGTON — The Eno Center for Transportation, a Washington, D.C., think tank, has outlined ways to realize long-term funding for the national transportation system in a report unveiled at the National Press Club on Dec. 3.