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.
NTSB’s Hersman to Resign, Become President of National Safety Council
National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman will depart next month from the independent federal agency she has led for nearly five years to become president of the National Safety Council, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization.
Moody’s Warns Investors on Infrastructure-Related Debt
Moody’s Investors Service told clients that transportation infrastructure needs are one of the driving forces of United States public finance in a March 10 Credit Outlook note.
House Schedules Roundtable to Hear State, Local Requests for Highway Bill
A roundtable discussion on the transportation policy priorities of state and local governments will be held March 13 by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Internal Federal Audit Faults CSA
An internal audit released March 7 criticized the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for not ensuring that data in the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program is complete, that the system follows the best technology practices or that states are using the data correctly.
March 10, 2014Calif. Proposes New Flexibility for Truck-Emissions Rule
The California Air Resources Board has proposed extending certain deadlines for truckers to replace or retrofit their vehicles, changes that the agency said would increase flexibility for businesses.
March 10, 2014Nussbaum to Use FlowBelow Wheel Covers for Entire Fleet
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Truckload carrier Nussbaum Transportation said it will retrofit its entire fleet with wheel covers from by FlowBelow Aero Inc.
March 10, 2014EPA Seeks to End Truck-Grant Program
President Obama’s fiscal 2015 budget includes a request by the Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate funding for a program that, for the past six years, has helped truckers buy equipment to reduce diesel emissions, Administrator Gina McCarthy said last week.
March 10, 2014Editorial: Things Are Looking Up
Signs are increasing that the nation’s economic health is steadily improving. It’s not a barnburner, and there is still some uncertainty, as the Commerce Department trimmed its estimate of fourth-quarter 2013 growth to an annual rate of 2.4% from 3.2% in an earlier estimate.
March 10, 2014Obama Devotes $73.61 Billion to Surface Transport in Budget
President Obama’s fiscal 2015 budget proposal includes $73.61 billion for surface transportation, a 1.8% increase over this year’s level, as part of an overall $302.3 billion transportation plan in the next four years.
March 10, 2014DOT Says US Needs Up to $86 Bln. For Annual Highway Maintenance
The United States needs to spend $65 billion to $86 billion annually over the next 20 years to maintain its current highway infrastructure, the Department of Transportation said.
March 10, 2014