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.
DOT Awards $220 Million for Port Infrastructure
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $220 million in grants to improve port infrastructure, including facilities used by freight vehicles.
Minnesota DOT Completes International Bridge Replacement
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has completed the $39.3 million replacement of the Baudette/Rainy River International Bridge, which links north-central Minnesota to Ontario.
Retail Sales Rose 1.9% in September, the Fifth Consecutive Month of Growth
NEW YORK — Retail sales in the U.S. rose 1.9% in September, the 5th consecutive month of growth.
GM’s Cruise Unit OK’d for Automated Tests in San Francisco
General Motors Co.’s Cruise unit will be allowed to test autonomous vehicles on public roads in San Francisco without a safety driver, joining Amazon .com Inc.-backed Zoox Inc. and a handful of other self-driving startups.
COVID-19 Relief Bill on Senate Floor Week of Oct.19, McConnell Says
An emergency funding measure aimed at small businesses and sectors affected by the pandemic is expected to reach the floor of the U.S. Senate the week of Oct. 19, the chamber’s leader recently indicated.
Appellate Court Overturns Convictions of Former Pilot President, Two Executives
A federal appellate court has overturned the fraud convictions of former Pilot Flying J President Mark Hazelwood and two ex-Pilot sales executives on the grounds that a lower federal court permitted use of evidence that should not have been admitted.
Fiat Chrysler to Invest Up to $1.1 Billion in Canadian Plants
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV agreed to invest as much as $1.1 billion (C$ 1.5 billion) in one of its two assembly plants in Canada as part of a tentative agreement reached with more than 9,000 local autoworkers.
Stimulus Looks Doomed by Parties’ Divergent Goals
Even with the U.S. still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, Washington fell short in delivering more stimulus before the election, whipsawed by President Donald Trump and hobbled by the diverging agendas of the top Republican and Democrat in Congress. Now, voters will help decide what happens next.
Layoffs Remain Elevated as 898,000 Seek Jobless Aid
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose the week of Oct. 5 to 898,000, a historically high number and evidence that layoffs remain a hindrance to the economy’s recovery from the pandemic recession that erupted seven months ago.
Texas Officials Unveil Truck Inspection Facility Along I-10
The Texas Department of Public Safety has opened a technologically advanced truck inspection facility in Seguin, which straddles Interstate 10.