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.
House Bill Boosts Protections Against Staged Crashes
Legislation targeting staged vehicle collisions and fraudulent claims affecting the motor carrier industry was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Fed to Accelerate Withdrawal of Economic Aid as Prices Surge
WASHINGTON — Under Chair Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve is poised this week to execute a sharp turn toward tighter interest rate policies with inflation accelerating and unemployment falling faster than expected.
Snarled Supply Chain Ignites Economic Boom Along US-Mexico Border
Near-shoring is one of the biggest economic transformations sparked by the pandemic: Shrink the length of the supply chain to keep production closer to its final destination and reduce the risk of some snag messing things up along the way.
Wholesale Inflation Jumps Record 9.6% Over Past 12 Months
WASHINGTON — Prices at the wholesale level surged by a record 9.6% in November from a year earlier, an indication of ongoing inflation pressures.
Another 2.5¢ a Gallon Lopped Off National Diesel Price
The national average price for diesel dipped 2.5 cents to $3.649 a gallon, according to Energy Information Administration data released Dec. 13.
December 13, 2021White House Unveils Plan for EV Charging Network
The Biden administration on Dec. 13 released a federal strategy to build 500,000 charging stations for electric vehicles across the country and bring down the cost of electric cars with the goal of transforming the U.S. auto industry.
Consumers Spending at Fastest Pace BofA CEO Has Seen
The head of the nation’s second-largest bank said consumers are spending “at a faster rate” than he has ever seen, but he remains concerned about how inflation and supply chain issues will influence the economy going into the winter.
US Ship-Law Revamp Will Boost Industry Transparency, LA Port Chief Says
The first major update of U.S. international ocean-shipping laws in more than two decades, which passed in the House this week, will help boost transparency in the industry if passed by the Senate, the head of the Port of Los Angeles said.
Consumer Prices Climb at Fastest Annual Rate Since 1982
U.S. consumer prices rose last month at the fastest annual pace in nearly 40 years, magnifying how rapid and persistent inflation is eroding paychecks and increasing pressure on the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy.
Trucking Expresses Supply Chain Concerns Before House Panel
The potential harm that a proposed federal vaccine mandate could have on trucking was spotlighted by an industry executive who outlined for lawmakers key challenges facing motor carriers as they work to deliver goods across an increasingly stressed supply chain.