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.
Va. Senate Votes to Increase Taxes on Fuel, After Rejecting Gov.’s Plan
The Virginia Senate on Wednesday passed a transportation funding bill that would raise the state’s 17.5-cent tax on gasoline and diesel fuel by a nickel, to 22.5 cents a gallon, after last week rejecting Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposal to do away with the gasoline tax entirely.
Obama Touts Infrastructure, Nat Gas in State of Union Speech
In his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, President Obama pitched a “Fix-It First” program to address the nation’s most immediate infrastructure needs and called for more use of natural gas as a transportation fuel.
February 13, 2013Wyoming Senate Votes to Add a Dime to State’s 14-Cent Diesel Tax
The Wyoming Senate on Thursday approved and sent to the governor a bill that would add a dime to the state’s 14-cent-per-gallon diesel and gasoline tax.
Congressman Wants Overseas Profits Invested In U.S. Infrastructure
Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.) said Tuesday that he plans to introduce a bill in the next month to create an infrastructure investment office within the Treasury Department as well as a fund to make loans to states.
Small Business Administration Chief Mills to Step Down
Karen Mills, head of the Small Business Administration, said Monday that she will leave her post, opening another Cabinet slot for President Obama to fill.
Michigan Gov. Proposes 18-Cent Diesel Tax Hike
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) has proposed increasing the state diesel tax by 18 cents to a total of 33 cents a gallon to fix roads and bridges, the Associated Press reported.
February 11, 2013Editorial: A $27 Billion Traffic Jam
Here’s a double-barreled dose of worrisome news: Trucking wasted some $27 billion in fuel and lost productivity during 2011 due to congestion in the nation’s largest urban areas; fuel prices spiked in the most recent survey by the Department of Energy, 9.5 cents a gallon for diesel and 18.1 cents for gasoline.
February 11, 2013Traffic Costs Truckers $27 Billion In Extra Fuel, Wages, Study Says
Trucking fleets wasted some $27 billion on fuel and wages as their vehicles sat in traffic jams around the country during 2011, according to a new report from Texas A&M University’s Transportation Institute.
February 11, 2013ATA Renews Call for Crash Accountability from FMCSA
American Trucking Associations called on federal officials to establish a process to remove crash statistics from motor carriers’ records in cases where it has been evident that the carrier was not to blame.
February 8, 2013CVSA Asks for Delay of Hours-of-Service Changes
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to delay implementing scheduled changes to the hours-of-service rules for truck drivers until three months after a pending legal challenge is resolved.
