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.
Daimler Bets Big on India’s Booming Truck, Bus Market
CHENNAI, India — The world’s largest commercial vehicle maker, Daimler AG, is making one of its biggest-ever bets by pouring $850 million into production and sales operations here, in what is now the world’s fastest-growing market for trucks and buses.
May 14, 2012Trucking’s Recovery Is Sound, Likely to Last, Economists Say
SAN FRANCISCO — Two of trucking’s leading economists said last week the industry’s economic recovery was well under way and should continue for at least several more years.
May 14, 2012Negotiators Convene on Transportation Bill, but Partisanship Seen Overshadowing Talks
House and Senate negotiators assigned to produce a compromise joint highway bill met last week in their only public meeting before slipping behind closed doors to work out issues ranging from funding to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
May 14, 2012OMB Clears Stability Control Rule
A proposal to require electronic stability control on all new heavy vehicles has been cleared by the White House Office of Management and Budget, the final hurdle before it is published.
Trucking Failures Decline
Truck fleet failures continued to decline early this year, despite high diesel prices that stubbornly remained above $4 per gallon, according to a new report.
May 7, 2012Roadrunner’s First-Quarter Profit Grows
Roadrunner Transportation Systems’ first-quarter profit climbed to $7.9 million, or 25 cents a share, from $4.4 million, or 14 cents, a year ago.
May 4, 2012ISM Services Index Slips, but Shows Expansion
An index of the U.S. economy’s service sector declined in April to a four-month low, but showed overall continued expansion, the Institute for Supply Management said Thursday.
May 3, 2012FMCSA to Study Crash Accountability Process, Ferro Says
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Nearly two months after announcing an indefinite delay of a highly anticipated process to assess and assign fault on carriers’ safety records for truck-related crashes, the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said the agency has begun to answer critical questions about the issue.
NAFTA Surface Trade Rises 17.4% in February
Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico rose 17.4% in February from a year ago, the Department of Transportation said.
May 1, 2012FMCSA Hears from Drivers, Carriers on EOBR Issue
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Several dozen truck drivers, motor carriers and law enforcement officers gave federal regulators a candid array of opinions on whether a planned electronic logging device mandate would be properly used as a safety device and fleet productivity tool.