Government

About Government News...

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.

Government

Wisconsin 30th State to Pass Anti-Indemnification Law

Gov. Scott Walker (R) has made Wisconsin the 30th state to prohibit shipping contracts that require carriers to assume all liability for accidents regardless of whether they are at fault.

Michele Fuetsch | Staff Reporter
July 12, 2011
Government

Minnesota Rest Areas to Stay Closed During Shutdown

A Minnesota special master has decided to keep the state’s highway rest areas and commercial driver’s license credentialing closed during the state government shutdown, said John Hausladen, president of the Minnesota Trucking Association.

Timothy Cama | Staff Reporter
July 12, 2011
Government

ATRI Survey Seeks Carriers’ Input on CSA Program

The American Transportation Research Institute said Tuesday it has launched a survey to identify the impacts of the federal Compliance, Safety, Accountability program.

July 12, 2011
Business, Logistics, Fuel, Government

Diesel Rises 4.9¢ to $3.899 in Biggest Gain Since Mid-April

Diesel’s national average retail price rose almost a nickel, gaining 4.9 cents to $3.899 a gallon, the biggest increase since mid-April, the Department of Energy said.

July 12, 2011
Editorial, Government, Business, Safety, Autonomous

Opening the Border

Congratulations to the U.S. Department of Transportation for finalizing the cross-border trucking program with Mexico.

July 11, 2011
Government

Appeals Court OKs ABF Suit Against YRC-Teamsters Deal

A U.S. appeals court last week reversed a lower court’s ruling that blocked ABF Freight System from challenging three cost-cutting agreements between YRC Worldwide Inc. and the Teamsters union.

July 11, 2011
Business, Government

ISM Services Index Slips but Shows Continued Expansion

An index of the U.S. economy’s service sector declined in June but still showed expansion, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday.

July 6, 2011
Government, Business, Safety, Autonomous

N.Y. City Not Ticketing Trucks, Pending Appeal on Decals

New York City recently announced that it is not enforcing its truck decal requirement and has asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to reconsider a ruling that the city cannot require truckers to have such identification.

Michele Fuetsch | Staff Reporter
July 5, 2011
Government, Business, Safety, Autonomous

Truck Groups Defend La.’s Anti-Indemnification Law

American Trucking Associations and the Louisiana Motor Transport Association have filed a brief supporting Louisiana’s anti-indemnification law against a lawsuit that calls it unconstitutional.

Timothy Cama | Staff Reporter
July 5, 2011
Government

EPA Expands SmartWay to Drayage Trucking With Initiative to Reduce Emissions at Ports

The Environmental Protection Agency has expanded its SmartWay Transport Partnership with a new initiative — one that aims to reduce emissions in drayage trucking.

July 4, 2011