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.
FAA Approves Zipline’s Drone-Delivery Service as Air Carrier
Zipline International Inc., a drone-delivery company that has made thousands of medical drops in Africa, was approved by U.S. regulators to operate as a small air carrier.
June 21, 2022Biden Administration Prepares Trucking Workforce Programs Focusing on Women, Younger Drivers
In the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law Nov. 15, there were provisions to address the lack of women and younger drivers in the trucking workforce.
Autonomous Truck Developers Must Address Technical Concerns
ORLANDO, Fla. — Autonomous truck developers are making steady progress toward commercialization, but these companies and their future fleet customers will need to address a variety of technical issues and other operational concerns to integrate this technology into the freight transportation industry.
California Democrats to Investigate Cause of High Gas Prices
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With California drivers paying more than $6 for a gallon of gas and state officials deadlocked for months over how to provide relief, lawmakers in the state Assembly on June 20 announced they would investigate oil companies they say are “abusing a historic situation to suck profits from Californians’ wallets.”
Tonnage Jumps 3.7% in May
Truck tonnage jumped 3.7% in May compared with year-ago levels, marking the ninth consecutive year-over-year gain and the largest since April 2021, American Trucking Associations announced.
Companies Rethink Supplier Networks in COVID Era
The pandemic has changed the nature of global supply chains with companies seeking to source goods from multiple places to minimize shipment and production disruptions.
US Sanctions Help China Supercharge Its Chipmaking Industry
China’s chip industry is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, after U.S. sanctions on local champions from Huawei Technologies Co. to Hikvision spurred appetite for home-grown components.
June 21, 2022Perspective: Repeal FET to Boost Green Buying
A question to ask the decision-makers in Washington: If the goal is to get more cleaner, greener trucks on the road, why does the federal government keep the 12% federal excise tax on the sale of a new truck?
Biden Says Decision on Gas Tax Holiday May Come This Week
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — President Joe Biden said June 20 that he will decide by the end of the week whether he would support a federal gasoline tax holiday, possibly saving U.S. consumers as much as 18.4 cents a gallon.
How the Pandemic Accelerated Change for Motor Carriers
Few industries came under as much pressure and made as many adjustments during the COVID-19 pandemic as trucking. Industry executives see permanent changes resulting from how COVID altered the economy, consumer behavior and business interactions.