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.
Time Running Out for Highway Trust Fund, DOT Warns
The Department of Transportation warned April 15 that the federal Highway Trust Fund will encounter a shortfall by August, putting at risk the ability for states to pay for key highway maintenance projects.
Independent Contractor Bill Reintroduced in N.J.
A bill opposed by the trucking industry to classify independent drayage operators and parcel delivery drivers as company employees has been reintroduced in the New Jersey Legislature.
Md. Gov. O’Malley Signs ‘Jake’s Law,’ Boosting Penalty for Distracted Driving
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) signed into law a measure that increases the penalty for drivers who cause injury or death to others in a crash caused by distracted driving.
Consumer Prices Rise 0.2% in March
The consumer price index climbed 0.2% in March after increasing 0.1% the prior month, a Labor Department report showed April 15.
April 15, 2014Mass. Trucking Co. Sentenced For Bribing FMCSA Inspector
A Massachusetts trucking company owner was sentenced to one year of probation and a fine of $1,000 for paying a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration safety inspector $1,000 to produce a false report.
Senate Confirms Former Kan. Transportation Secretary to Sit on STB
The Senate confirmed Debra Miller to sit on the three-member Surface Transportation Board for a term that expires in December 2017.
Execs Seek HOS Change During Capitol Hill Visit
WASHINGTON — Trucking executives from Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Ohio asked members of their congressional delegation here April 9 to help roll back provisions of a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rule that imposes limits on truckers’ work schedules.
April 14, 2014Trucking Bankruptcies Rise
Trucking fleet failures more than doubled in the first quarter from a year earlier as rising costs, regulatory burdens and inclement weather sank marginal fleets, a new report found.
April 14, 2014Report Calls for Separate Emissions Rule for Heavy Trucks Powered by Natural Gas
Federal regulators should develop a separate standard for natural gas-powered vehicles when they finalize the second phase of the government’s emissions reduction and fuel-efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, according to a new report by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.
April 14, 2014Senators Say They Have Reached Agreement on Framework for Highway Funding Bill
Four U.S. senators leading the debate for a long-term transportation bill said that they have reached a bipartisan agreement on the broad principles for legislation they will begin working on after the Easter recess.
April 14, 2014