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.
GAO Critical of CSA Data
The U.S. Government Accountability Office said last week that some data included in the federal government’s Compliance, Safety Accountability program do not have a “strong predictive relationship with crashes.”
February 10, 2014Hersman Disturbed by Cuts in Collection of Crash Data
A loss of research data is “disturbing” and will hamper the ability of federal agencies to effectively regulate truck safety, said Deborah Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.
February 10, 2014Two Trailer Makers Set Sights on Moving Vans to Capitalize on Growing Relocation Market
A pair of leading dry-freight trailer manufacturers told Transport Topics they are prepared to supply 53-foot household goods vans — a market dominated by another manufacturer — to carriers anticipating a moving season that could become the best in years.
February 10, 2014LTLs’ 4Q Results Improve Despite Winter Storms
Three publicly traded less-than-truckload operators reported improved fourth-quarter earnings despite challenges such as severe weather, but profit slipped at a fourth fleet on higher insurance costs.
February 10, 2014FMCSA Declares 2 Drivers Imminent Hazards, Puts Them Out of Service
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has declared two drivers to be imminent hazards to public safety and taken them off the road.
Forward Air Closes Central States Purchase
Forward Air Corp. said Feb. 6 it completed its $95.6 million acquisition of Central States Trucking Co. and Central States Logistics.
February 6, 2014Study Confirms CSA’s Effectiveness at Identifying Crash-Prone Carriers, FMCSA Says
A new study commissioned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration confirms that Compliance, Safety, Accountability program safety-measurement system data are more effective at identifying crash-prone motor carriers than the old SafeStat system, agency officials said Feb. 5.
February 5, 2014ISM Services Index Rises in January
An index of the U.S. economy’s service sector increased in January, the Institute for Supply Management reported Feb. 5.
February 5, 2014Shuster Rejects Higher Fuel Taxes
WASHINGTON — House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) said he wants a five- to six-year highway bill but is not backing higher fuel taxes to pay for improvements and new capacity for the nation’s roads and bridges.
CBO: Highway Fund to be Bankrupt Oct. 1
The Congressional Budget Office said its projections show that the Highway Trust Fund will have insufficient funds to meet its obligations starting in fiscal year 2015, the first day of which is Oct. 1.