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.
Midwest Floods Damage Roads, Bridges
Heavy rains led to severe flooding in several Midwest states this week, taking out some major roads and rail bridges and causing millions of dollars in damages, news services reported.
June 11, 2008DOT’s Freight Transport Index Rises Slightly
The Department of Transportation’s freight transportation services index for April rose slightly from a year ago, but was unchanged from March, DOT said Wednesday.
June 11, 2008Letters to the Editor: Fuel-Cost Crisis, Drug & Alcohol Testing, Trucker Pride
I joined the company where I work about three months ago, and one of my top-priority jobs has been fuel usage. We had to look at our idling time because all our trucks are sleepers and the drivers run in 48 states.
June 11, 2008TWIC Machines Faulty, Lawmaker Says
Most of the machines that process the Transportation Worker Identification Credential cards are broken, according to a House lawmaker, the Associated Press reported.
June 11, 2008FMCSA Extends CDL-Permit Comment Period to July 9
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended a comment period for states to establish commercial learner’s permits by a month, to July 9.
June 11, 2008Two Truck Drivers Killed in European Fuel-Price Protests
Police cleared striking truckers who were protesting high fuel prices from the Spanish-French border, and two striking drivers were killed in separate incidents in Spain and Portugal, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
June 11, 2008ATA Petitions Against Boston Hazmat Rules
American Trucking Associations has asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to prevent changes Boston recently made to its hazardous materials routing designations and permitting process.
June 10, 2008IEA Lowers Oil Demand Forecast; European Truckers Step Up Protests
The International Energy Agency lowered its forecast for global oil demand this year, while thousands of European truckers protested high fuel prices, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.
June 10, 2008Teamsters Launch Carhaul Strike at PTS
Teamsters union members employed at car hauler Performance Transportation Services went on strike against the company Monday to enforce the union’s bargaining table demands, the union said.
June 10, 2008Trucking Consolidation Seen Benefiting Surviving Firms
Soaring fuel prices have driven trucking bankruptcies up 143% over the same time last year, and industry analysts said the market may need to consolidate more before it improves for those companies that survive, the Associated Press reported.
June 10, 2008