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, Equipment, Autonomous

ArvinMeritor to Develop Diesel-Electric Drivetrain for Wal-Mart

Trucking component maker ArvinMeritor and Wal-Mart Transportation have agreed to develop a dual-mode, diesel-electric drivetrain for a Class 8 tractor, the two said.

January 11, 2007
Business, Fuel, Government

Schwarzenegger Orders Calif. to Further Cut Fuel Emissions

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) plans to ask state regulators to require the state’s petroleum refiners and gasoline sellers to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 10%, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

January 10, 2007
Business, Government, Autonomous

Trucking-Related Revenue Rose to $292 Billion in ’05

Trucking, couriers and messengers, and warehousing and storage revenue reached $292 billion in 2005, up from $266 billion the year before, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

January 10, 2007
Business, Government, Autonomous

Paccar to Build $400 Mln. Powertrain Plant in Southeastern U.S.

Paccar Inc., the parent company of Kenworth Truck Co. and Peterbilt Motors Co., said late Tuesday it plans to build a new $400 million powertrain manufacturing plant in the southeastern United States.

January 10, 2007
Business, Government

Wholesale Inventories, Sales Gain for November

Wholesale inventories jumped 1.3% in November as sales rebounded from two consecutive declines, rising 1%, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

January 10, 2007
Business, Government

U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed in November, Commerce Reports

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in November to its smallest level since July 2005 and, as exports reached a record and oil imports declined, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

January 10, 2007
Business, Safety, Government, Autonomous

Security & Safety Briefs — Jan. 4 - Jan. 10

Highway Watch Report Leads to Arrest • McMurray Named FMCSA’s Chief Safety Officer • Mass. Trucking Company Files Complaint Against FMCSA • Survey Cites Drivers’ HOS Compliance Concerns • And more...

January 10, 2007
Business, Government, Safety, Autonomous

FMCSA to Propose Electronic Onboard Recorder Rule Thursday

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said late Tuesday that it will announce a proposed rule regarding electronic on-board recorders for commercial trucks and buses on Thursday morning.

January 10, 2007
Business, Fuel, Government, Autonomous

Crude Oil Closes at 19-Month Low, at $54.02 a Barrel

Crude oil futures hit a 19-month low price, closing at $54.02 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange Wednesday following a Department of Energy report showing strong heating-oil inventories, Bloomberg reported.

January 10, 2007
Business, Government, Safety

ATRI Issues Final Request for HOS Sleeper-Berth Data

The American Transportation Research Institute issued a final call Tuesday for motor carrier safety data to measure the effects of the federal hours-of-service rule’s split sleeper-berth provisions.

January 9, 2007