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.
Idaho to Hold Hearings on Oversize, Overweight Permits
The Idaho Department of Transportation will hold public hearings Wednesday and Thursday after a judge said the department must consider complaints about ConocoPhillips’ plan to ship large loads of equipment along winding highway U.S. 12.
FMCSA Names 3 to Medical Review Board
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has appointed three new members to its Medical Review Board.
December 7, 2010Mississippi System Weighs Trucks at Full Speed
The Mississippi Department of Transportation is testing a system that allows officials to weigh commercial vehicles while they're traveling at full speed, the (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger newspaper reported.
December 6, 2010Groups Seek to Block Release Of CSA Safety Data by FMCSA
Three freight trade groups asked a federal appeals court to halt the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s planned Dec. 12 public release of fleet safety information, claiming the move would violate federal law.
December 6, 2010ATA Petitions PHMSA to Make It Easier to Use Consolidation Bins for Hazmats
American Trucking Associations last week asked the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to facilitate the use of consolidation bins in transporting small packages of hazmat materials.
December 6, 2010FMCSA Aims to Publish Revised HOS Rule, EOBR Mandate Before Jan. 1, Ferro Says
WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration now aims to publish its revisions to the hours-of-service rule and a proposed expansion of its electronic data recorder requirement by the end of the year, the agency’s head said last week.
December 6, 2010Fed Reports Improving Transportation Demand in Many Areas
U.S. economic activity continued to improve between October and mid-November, and demand for transportation services increased in many areas, the Federal Reserve said.
December 2, 2010CARB May Be Flexible on Reefer Retrofits
California environmental regulators have pledged to cut truckers some slack early next year while enforcing the state’s amended transport refrigeration unit rule that will require all refrigerated trucks and trailers be equipped with low emission TRU retrofits or engines on their 2003 trucks and trailers by Dec. 31.
Tolling Close on Washington State Bridge
When tolling starts sometime this spring on the State Route 520 Bridge across Lake Washington west from Seattle, trucks could pay from $2.40 to $14.50 each way to cross.
Idaho Panel Falls Short of Road-Funding Recommendations
A task force formed to address Idaho’s transportation funding shortfall has disbanded after 18 months of work without making any specific road-revenue-raising recommendations.