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.
Mail Delivery Delays Persist in Metro Detroit
Slow, sometimes nonexistent mail delivery continues to plague several Metro Detroit neighborhoods despite the best efforts of U.S. lawmakers to identify and correct the problems.
Biden Warns Against Gas Price Gouging After Cyberattack
President Joe Biden warned gasoline stations not to engage in any price gouging as motorists wait for fuel to start flowing reliably through the Colonial Pipeline, which reopened on May 12 after falling victim to a cyberattack.
Federal, State Responses to Colonial Pipeline Attack Consider Trucking
Government agencies at the federal and state levels took a variety of measures — including some to help facilitate truck movement — in response to the cyberattack that temporarily halted operations for Colonial Pipeline.
More Than 700 Barges Stuck in Mississippi River From Bridge Crack
A crack in a bridge over the Mississippi River has stranded more than 700 barges, cutting off the biggest route for U.S. agricultural exports when the critical waterway is at its busiest.
Louisiana House Takes Action on Staged Accidents Involving Trucks
The Louisiana House has passed a bill that would make staging an accident with a car or truck a serious state crime.
Colonial Pipeline Paid Hackers Nearly $5 Million in Ransom
Colonial Pipeline Co. paid nearly $5 million to Eastern European hackers on May 7, contradicting reports earlier this week that the company had no intention of paying an extortion fee to help restore the country’s largest fuel pipeline, according to two people familiar with the transaction.
May 13, 2021Driver Positive Drug Tests Continue at Last Year’s Rate So Far in 2021
The rate of positive truck driver drug tests recorded in the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse in the first three months of this year remains on pace with last year’s, and the number of drivers who have yet to enroll in return-to-duty programs remains persistently low.
US Shipping Rule Waived so Foreign Tanker Can Deliver Fuel
The Biden administration temporarily eased century-old U.S. shipping requirements so a single foreign tanker could transport gasoline and jet fuel to the East Coast, where the Colonial Pipeline outage caused tanks to run dry.
US Jobless Claims Fall More Than Forecast in Week Ended May 8
Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance fell to a fresh pandemic low last week as business confidence strengthens and employers seek to fill more positions left open by restrictions.
Texas Senate Committee Approves Legislation to Curb Lawsuit Abuse
The Texas Senate Transportation Committee has unanimously approved a House bill that would help curb the growing trend of lawsuit abuse targeting commercial vehicles in Texas.