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.
House Committee to Consider Sleep Apnea Bill
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will consider a bill Sept. 19 that would prevent the federal government from issuing regulatory guidance recommending that truck drivers be screened and treated for sleep apnea.
September 16, 2013Letters: Hours of Service, Not Enough Facilities, New Freight Rules, 34-Hour Restart
FMCSA to Provide Brokers Additional Time To Prove They’ve Increased Bonds to $75,000
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it will provide additional time for freight brokers to supply proof they’ve increased their minimum surety bonds to $75,000 from $10,000.
September 16, 2013DTNA, Volvo Ask Court to Revoke Approval Of Navistar’s 2012 EGR Engines by EPA
Lawyers for Daimler Trucks North America and Volvo Group told a federal court last week that the Environmental Protection Agency should vacate the compliance certificates on most Navistar Inc. MaxxForce engines made in 2012 because the rule EPA used for its approval was invalidated.
September 16, 2013Producer Price Index Grows in August; Retail Sales Rise
Prices paid to U.S. producers rose 0.3% in August, the Labor Department reported Sept. 13.
September 13, 2013Congressmen Seek to Block Trucker Sleep Apnea Guidance
A bill introduced Sept. 12 in the House would prevent the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from issuing “guidance” that would recommend certain obese truck drivers be screened and treated for sleep apnea and allow such action only in a formal rulemaking process.
September 12, 2013Jobless Claims Fall Due to Computer System Work
Work on computer systems at state employment agencies caused reported initial jobless claims to fall by 31,000 last week, the Labor Department said Sept. 12.
September 12, 2013Advisory Panel Hears from Attorneys on Truck Crash Fault
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A special advisory panel studying the federal Compliance, Safety, Accountability program heard conflicting opinions from two accident litigators on the merits of police accident reports as the basis for assessing blame in truck-involved crashes.
Out-of-Service Rates Fall for Roadcheck 2013; Driver Rate Ties All-Time Low
Law enforcement officers found lower rates of out-of-service violations in commercial vehicle inspections during a three-day enforcement blitz earlier this year compared with last year’s event, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance said.
September 12, 2013Bill Seeks Time, Cost Limits for Review of Port Projects
House transportation leaders introduced a bipartisan bill Sept. 11 that would limit the environmental review timeline on port dredging and other water infrastructure projects, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said.
September 11, 2013