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.
Truck Size Issue a Challenge, FHWA Nominee Mendez Says
WASHINGTON — Victor Mendez, the Obama administration’s choice to head the Federal Highway Administration, said safety and productivity would be among the factors he would consider when examining possible changes to federal truck size-and-weight limits.
June 8, 2009GAO Urges Speedier GPS System Upgrade
The accuracy of the Global Positioning System could be compromised as early as next year if the U.S. Air Force cannot meet an ambitious schedule for space and ground infrastructure deployment, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
June 8, 2009Navistar Challenges EPA
Truck and engine manufacturer Navistar Inc. has challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to certify heavy-duty diesel engines using selective catalytic reduction to meet the agency’s 2010 emission standards, saying EPA skipped an important regulatory step.
June 8, 2009Obama Taps Maryland’s Ferro as Next FMCSA Administrator
President Obama will nominate Anne Ferro, president of the Maryland Motor Truck Association, to head the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the White House announced last week.
June 8, 2009Trucking Warms to Electronic Stability Systems
Despite the lack of a new, long-promised federal stopping-distance rule for heavy-duty trucks, brake companies are making — and original equipment manufacturers are offering — a growing array of electronic systems designed to help truckers stop faster and maintain more control.
June 8, 2009YRC Consolidates Its Management Team
YRC Worldwide Inc. last week said it was consolidating top management of its less-than-truckload services as it also pursues moves to conserve cash, such as selling its headquarters and negotiating a proposed pension deal for its unionized employees.
June 8, 2009States Creating ‘Smart Road’ Projects with Stimulus Funds to Reduce Traffic
Instead of buying only asphalt and steel, several states will spend federal stimulus dollars on “smart road” projects that use information technology to reduce congestion, according to a survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
June 8, 2009Diesel Jumps 7.8¢ to $2.352
The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel jumped 7.8 cents last week to $2.352 a gallon, the highest level since December, while gasoline rose another 8.9 cents as crude oil pushed near $70 a barrel, the Department of Energy reported.
June 8, 2009Road Fund to Run Out of Cash by August, LaHood Warns
WASHINGTON — The Highway Trust Fund, which got an emergency $8 billion cash injection from Congress last summer, is likely to run out of money in the next two months, the Obama administration said last week.
June 8, 2009Senators Reach Deal to Work on Single Bill for Freight Rail Competition, Antitrust
The path for 2009 freight rail legislation was simplified last week when Sens. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) agreed to work together on a single bill addressing shippers’ concerns about a lack of competition.
June 8, 2009