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

Producer Price Index Gains 0.3%

Prices paid to U.S. producers rose 0.3% in February, the Labor Department said Tuesday.

March 18, 2008
Government, Business

Housing Starts, Construction Permits Drop in February

Housing starts fell in February and construction permits fell to the lowest level in 16 years, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

March 18, 2008
Business, Fuel, Government

EPA to Award $5 Million for Midwest Clean-Diesel Projects

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative said Friday today announced that it expects to award about $5 million in grants for diesel-emission reduction projects in five Midwestern states.

March 17, 2008
Fuel, Business, Safety, Government

ATA Projects Record Diesel Fuel Costs for 2008

American Trucking Associations is projecting a record high diesel fuel bill for the trucking industry this year, at $135 billion.

March 17, 2008
Business, Government

New York State Manufacturing Index Falls to Record Low

Manufacturing growth in New York state fell to the lowest rate ever in March, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Monday.

March 17, 2008
Business, Safety, Government, Technology, Equipment

DOT’s Road-Privatization Policy Draws Criticism

The Department of Transportation’s plan to privatize many public roadways by using more tolls has come under intense criticism by those who believe the federal highway system was set up to be paid for by taxpayers, the Washington Post reported Monday.

March 17, 2008
Government, Business

Chicago Mercantile Exchange Buying Nymex for $9.5 Billion

The parent company of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade said Monday it would buy the owner of the New York Mercantile Exchange for $9.5 billion, the Associated Press reported.

March 17, 2008
Business, Government

Fed Cuts Lending Rate in Move to Stem Market Slide

The Federal Reserve Sunday cut the rate on direct loans to banks and became lender of last resort to the biggest dealers in U.S. government bonds, Bloomberg reported.

March 17, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Fuel

Diesel Jumps to $3.819 a Gallon

The U.S. average retail diesel price broke its record high for the third straight week, surging to $3.819 a gallon and topping $4 a gallon in some places, pushed by soaring crude oil prices that also set all-time highs and closed above $110 a barrel for the first time in history.

March 17, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Fuel

EPA Sets Emissions Standards for Trains, Ships

Railroad locomotive engines and marine vessels will be subject to new clean air standards that would sharply reduce particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency said Friday.

March 14, 2008