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.

Business, Safety, Government

ISM Services Index Improves, but Still Shows Contraction

The economy’s service sector contracted in February but improved from January, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday.

March 5, 2008
Business, Government

Oil Tops $104 for First Time

Oil prices soared $5 to close at more than $104 a barrel for the first time Wednesday following OPEC’s decision to keep output levels steady, Bloomberg reported.

March 5, 2008
Government

January Factory Orders Decline 2.5%

Factory orders fell 2.5% in January, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

March 5, 2008
Government, Business, Safety

Fourth-Quarter Productivity Revised Upward to 1.9%

Fourth-quarter U.S. worker productivity rose 1.9%, up from an earlier reported 1.8% figure, the Labor Department said Wednesday.

March 5, 2008
Business, Safety, Government

DHS Announces TWIC Enrollment Dates for 10 Ports

The Department of Homeland Security said enrollment in its Transportation Worker Identification Credential program will begin at 10 more locations in coming weeks.

March 5, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Technology, Equipment

Opinion: Be Ready to Explain Your SAFER Scores

Look closely at the tractors traveling down the road today and see if you can spot the real-time digital readout of the unit’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Record System scores.

March 4, 2008
Business, Safety, Government, Fuel

Letters to the Editor: Port Restrictions, Congress and LCVs, Hours of Service, Farewell Trucking

This is in response to the Port of Long Beach’s idea to restrict trucks at the port. It sounds like they are trying to eliminate owner-operators by forcing them to upgrade their trucks when they can barely survive with the cost of fuel and insurance, among other things, going through the roof.

March 4, 2008
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety, Government

Landstar CEO Sees Higher Truck Rates

Landstar System Chief Executive Officer Henry Gerkens said the company may benefit from higher freight pricing this year as excess truck capacity shrinks, Bloomberg reported.

March 4, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Fuel, Logistics

Diesel Jumps 10.6¢ to Record $3.658

3he average national price of retail diesel fuel jumped 10.6 cents to a record $3.658 a gallon, following last week’s record $3.552, the Department of Energy said.

March 4, 2008
Business, Safety, Government

NAFTA Surface Trade Climbs 3.1%

Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico jumped 3.1% in December from a year earlier, the Department of Transportation said Monday.

March 3, 2008