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.
Fertilizer Company Says Union Pacific Limits Will Hurt Farmers
OMAHA, Neb. — A major fertilizer company says the limits Union Pacific is putting on rail traffic to clear up congestion will delay shipments that farmers need during the spring planting season.
Texas Moves to Ease Border Gridlock Over ‘Sense of Urgency’
AUSTIN, Texas — The logjam of trucks at the U.S.-Mexico border finally began breaking April 14 after nearly a week as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott eased off his latest dramatic action over immigration that has gridlocked some of the world’s busiest trade ports and taken a mounting economic toll.
Truckers Fill Parking Lots as I-94 Remains Closed in N.D.
Semitrailer drivers filled parking lots in Jamestown, N.D., because I-94 to Montana was closed overnight April 13 due to a blizzard.
Indiana River Port Featured in White House Rural Infrastructure Tour
The Department of Transportation has released $44 billion for rural infrastructure, an announcement that reinforced a White House commitment and aligned with a visit by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to a small Indiana river port.
TXTA Chief: Driver Wait Times at Border Becoming a Burden
The discomfort of drivers having to wait long hours to enter Texas from Mexico should be considered amid the focus on freight delays resulting from Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent directive to enhance border safety inspections, says the head of the Texas Trucking Association.
Consumer Sentiment Unexpectedly Rises to Three-Month High
U.S. consumer sentiment unexpectedly rose to a three-month high in early April as optimism about job growth and wage expectations more than outweighed decades-high inflation.
Mexican Truck Exports Plunge 80% as Border Blockade Persists
Mexican semi-truck exports to the U.S. have slumped 80% in a matter of days as a border blockade to protest Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s stepped-up vehicle inspections drags on.
US Export Bank Approves Plan Seen as Boost for LNG Exporters
The U.S. Export-Import Bank approved a plan April 14 that could yield a flood of financing for U.S. energy ventures, including wind and solar projects, battery manufacturing and terminals to sell LNG overseas.
Jobless Claims Rise but Remain Near 50-Year Low
WASHINGTON — The number of people seeking unemployment benefits ticked up last week but remained at a historically low level, reflecting a robust U.S. labor market with near record-high job openings and few layoffs.
Retail Sales Show Impact of Surging Gas Prices
U.S. retail sales picked up in March, helped by a surge in gas station receipts that masked mixed results in other large spending categories as consumers contend with decades-high inflation.