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.
DOT’s Transportation Services Index Declines for 2006
The U.S. Transportation Department’s transportation services index fell 0.4% in 2006, its first annual decline since 2001, DOT said Wednesday.
February 14, 2007Security & Safety Briefs — Feb. 8 - Feb. 14
ATA Seeks Alerts to Fleets on Drivers’ CDLs • ATRI Seeking Input for Speed-Governor Survey • Idaho Eyes Raising Truck Speed Limit to 70 MPH • Mitsubishi Fuso Recalls 60,000 Trucks Overseas
February 14, 2007January Retail Sales Unchanged; Rise 0.3% Excluding Autos
U.S. retail sales were unchanged in January following a 1.2% gain in December, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.
February 14, 2007FMCSA Seeks $528 Million to Boost Safety, Enforcement
In addition to providing billions of dollars for congestion relief, the Department of Transportation’s $67 billion fiscal 2008 budget proposal included millions of dollars for commercial vehicle safety.
Business Inventories Unchanged in December
U.S. business inventories were unchanged in December, and business sales rose 1.4%, the biggest gain since May, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.
February 14, 2007Opinion: Trucking Braces for Hours-of-Service Decision
In May 2000, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a number of proposed changes to the existing hours-of-service rules — rules which, until this point, had remained virtually unchanged for 60 years.
February 14, 2007U.S. Trade Deficit Hit Record in 2006
The U.S. trade deficit widened to a record for a fifth straight year in 2006 as purchases of Chinese goods and imported oil overwhelmed an increase in exports, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.
February 13, 2007California May Build More Toll Roads, Paper Reports
California state lawmakers are planning toll-road projects that could be a future trend in the state, and some of the first projects will be targeted to roads that move goods from the state’s ports, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
February 13, 2007Diesel Price Jumps 4.1 Cents to $2.476 a Gallon
The average national price of retail diesel fuel jumped 4.1 cents to $2.476 a gallon, the Department of Energy said Monday.
February 13, 2007Forward Air Reports Flat Fourth-Quarter Profit
Forward Air Corp., a contractor to the air cargo industry, reported its fourth-quarter net income matched the previous year’s, at $12.2 million, while earnings per share climbed to 40 cents a share from 38 cents.
February 13, 2007