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.
Inflation Shows More Staying Power After Hitting 7% in 2021
U.S. consumer prices are likely to extend their eye-popping gains after soaring last year by the most in nearly four decades, further burdening Americans and ramping up pressure on policymakers to act.
Secretary Buttigieg Praises Port Efforts on Supply Chain
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during a Jan. 11 tour of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach lauded the efforts that have kept freight moving through the facilities amid crushing backlogs.
California Gov. Newsom’s Spending Plan Includes $10B for EVs
Aiming to end the sales of internal combustion engines in California in coming decades, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 10 made public his proposed $286 billion spending plan for 2022-23 that calls for a $10 billion investment over the next six years to put more electric cars and trucks on roadways and in ports.
US Shoppers Find Some Groceries Scarce Due to Virus, Weather
Benjamin Whitely headed to a Safeway supermarket in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 11 to grab some items for dinner. But he was disappointed to find the vegetable bins barren and a sparse selection of turkey, chicken and milk.
USDOT Updates Innovation, Technology Principles
The federal regulatory landscape for transportation operations must prioritize safety, economic growth and climate change, the leadership at the U.S. Department of Transportation recently affirmed in a series of guiding principles.
FEMA Outlines Multiyear Plan, Guidance
A multiyear strategic plan recently unveiled by the Federal Emergency Management Agency outlined guidelines ensuring access to freight and commuter corridors during emergencies and preparing for the impact of severe-weather events.
Port of Mobile Reports Record 2021
The volume of traffic through the Port of Mobile’s container terminal hit a record in 2021, the Alabama State Port Authority announced Jan. 10.
NLRB Sets Amazon Union Vote in Alabama
Amazon.com Inc. employees in Bessemer, Ala., will vote by mail next month in a rerun election on whether to unionize, the National Labor Relations Board announced Jan. 11.
OPEC+ Supply Hikes Enough to Prevent Market Overheat, Oman Says
OPEC and its allies don’t want crude prices to climb to $100 a barrel, and are reviving production quickly enough to prevent global markets from “overheating,” Oman’s oil minister said.
Supply Chain Bottlenecks, COVID Expected to Slow Global Growth
WASHINGTON — The World Bank is downgrading its outlook for the global economy, blaming continuing outbreaks of COVID-19, a reduction in government economic support and ongoing bottlenecks in global supply chains.