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.
EPA Budget Would Boost ‘Clean Diesel’ Spending
The Environmental Protection Agency’s fiscal year 2009 budget request includes $49.2 million in clean diesel grants, EPA said Monday following the release of President Bush’s budget.
February 4, 2008R.I. Checking Bridges in Inspections Program
Rhode Island transportation officials are checking the designs of 15 bridges in the state for a flaw that may have contributed to a fatal bridge collapse in Minneapolis last August, the Associated Press reported.
February 4, 2008Factory Orders Rise for Fourth Straight Month
Factory orders rose for a fourth consecutive month in December, posting a 2.3% increase over the previous month, the Commerce Department said Monday.
February 4, 2008Ohio Eyes Higher Fines for Overweight Trucks
The Ohio State Patrol wants higher fines for trucks carrying overweight loads, the Associated Press reported Monday.
February 4, 2008Oil Falls to Near $88 a Barrel
Crude oil prices fell for a third trading day in pre-market trading Monday, with futures falling almost $1 to $88.07 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, Bloomberg reported.
February 4, 2008ATA Leaders Agree on Need for Unity to Address Key Issues
WASHINGTON — With an eye on the congressional debate next year over reauthorizing transportation legislation, leaders of American Trucking Associations agreed on the need for the industry to come together on key issues and established a task force to work on safety issues.
February 4, 2008Oberstar Criticizes Administration on Handling of Transport Issues
WASHINGTON — The Democratic chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, in a speech to American Trucking Associations’ winter meeting here, delivered a scathing criticism of the Bush administration’s handling of transportation issues as he backed the report of a congressional commission that called for major federal spending on infrastructure funded by fuel-tax increases.
February 4, 2008Truck Tonnage Rises 1.4% in December
December truck tonnage increased by 1.4% from year-ago levels, the first back-to-back improvement in freight volume since May and June 2006, American Trucking Associations reported in its national index.
February 4, 2008Fleets Weigh Competing Technologies as New Emission Standards Loom
Truck buyers for some of the nation’s largest fleets are already contemplating their choices for the January 2010 generation of heavy-duty truck engines. Their challenge is matching the original equipment manufacturers they like with one of the two main technologies upon which the OEMs will rely.
February 4, 2008Construction Spending Falls 1.1%
Construction spending fell 1.1% December, the Commerce Department said Friday.
February 1, 2008