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.
December Used Truck Sales Decline, ACT Reports
Used Class 8 truck sales declined in December from a year earlier as vehicle prices increased and average mileage trickled lower, according to ACT Research.
February 4, 2013$3 Billion Pension Charge Sends UPS to 4th-Qtr. Loss
UPS Inc. posted a $1.75 billion fourth-quarter loss tied to pension costs, but CEO Scott Davis forecast 2013 earnings could improve, along with the U.S. and global economies.
February 4, 2013FMCSA Waives Hearing Standard for 40 Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has waived the federal hearing standard for 40 deaf or hard-of-hearing people who want to get commercial driver licenses, the agency said Friday.
ISM Manufacturing Index Improves in January
U.S. manufacturing activity rose in January, the Institute for Supply Management said Friday.
February 1, 2013NAFTA Surface Trade Rises 6.2% in November
Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico was 6.2% higher in November than the same month a year earlier, the Department of Transportation reported.
February 1, 2013Fed Holds Interest Rate at Record Low
The Federal Reserve Wednesday said it was holding a key interest rate at a record low as “economic activity paused in recent months.”
January 30, 2013GDP Reading Shows Economy Contracted in 4Q
The U.S. economy shrank at a 0.1% annual rate in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.
January 30, 2013Kansas Proposes State DOT to Oversee State Turnpike Authority
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) announced a proposed plan to have the state’s Department of Transportation oversee the operations of the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
Complicated Regulations Challenge Heavy Specialized Carriers, Fleet Execs Say
Fleets that haul the nation’s largest and heaviest freight — such as bridge girders, huge generators or industrial tires that can weigh 30,000 pounds each — first have to master a challenging regulatory environment unlike any other in trucking, according to fleet executives.
January 28, 2013CVSA to Start Enforcement of UCR Compliance Feb. 1
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced plans to begin enforcement Feb. 1 against carriers that have not complied with the Unified Carrier Registration program.
January 25, 2013