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.
Let the Good Times Roll
Now that we’ve had a week to digest the Transport Topics 100 ranking of the largest for-hire carriers in the United States and Canada, it’s clear that our coverage focused as much on the coming silver lining as on the bleak economic reality of 2008 and the first half of 2009.
July 20, 2009Letters: Early Safety Adopted; Reregulation
Any trucking company that takes the leadership position in safety and in clean air is to be commended. But doing so through high-tech safety and Environmental Protection Agency ventures makes the outcome risky.
July 20, 2009Crane Leverages Loss of EGL into New Logistics Success
HOUSTON — During the second half of 2007, when the U.S. economy and stock market were at their respective peaks, a colleague of James Crane said he was — for a brief while — bitter and unhappy. But as gross domestic product and the value of stocks, housing and other assets fell dramatically, the smile returned to Crane’s face as he realized the comfort of cash — hundreds of millions of dollars of it.
July 20, 2009YRC Deal With Teamsters Expected to Save $870 Million
YRC Worldwide’s latest cost-cutting agreement with the Teamsters is expected to save $870 million over 18 months and help the company regain its financial footing, analysts and company officials said.
July 20, 2009Senate Panel Approves Extension of Existing Highway Legislation
WASHINGTON — The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved an 18-month extension of existing highway legislation even as House leaders continued to oppose a delay in passing a new multiyear transportation funding bill.
July 20, 200910% Cut in Truck Traffic Called ‘Almost Ludicrous’
The idea of removing 10% of truck traffic from the nation’s highways by 2020 to reduce carbon emissions is “almost ludicrous,” Ray Kuntz, former chairman of American Trucking Associations, told a Senate committee last week.
July 20, 2009Maersk Chassis Fee Would Raise Costs, Truckers Warn
Drayage truckers blasted world’s largest ocean carrier Maersk Line’s plan to begin charging a chassis-use fee, saying it would raise costs and complicate operations.
July 20, 2009J.B. Hunt’s Profit Drops 52% in 2nd Quarter
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. said its second-quarter profit fell 52%, hurt by mounting pressure on prices and weak demand, as the latest round of quarterly financial reports by public carriers began to roll in last week.
July 20, 2009Diesel Drops 5.2¢ to $2.542
The average cost of retail diesel in the United States dropped 5.2 cents a gallon last week to $2.542, the third consecutive decline and a level nearly 50% below the record highs of a year ago.
July 20, 2009Housing Starts Jump to Seven-Month High
Housing starts rose 3.6% to a seven-month high in June, the Commerce Department said Friday.
July 17, 2009