Government

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in October as imports fell faster than exports. The politically sensitive trade gap with China dropped.

Despite persistent concerns of a worldwide economic slowdown, a new report from logistics and shipping company DHL says international trade remains strong, with only a slight decline in its overall DHL Global Connectedness Index.

The transportation construction market is expected to grow by about 5% in 2020, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association’s annual economic forecast. 

Commercial vehicle inspectors will not offer a “soft enforcement” grace period for truckers who have not migrated to electronic logging devices from grandfathered automatic onboard recording devices by Dec. 17, the date that full enforcement of the federal ELD rule takes effect.

With the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump entering a new phase this month, congressional leaders continue to criticize each other over inaction on legislation to keep the federal government funded through fiscal 2020, a new trade agreement and infrastructure policy.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — A proposed federal rule that would allow motor carriers to drug test their drivers and prospective employees using hair samples continues to wind its way slowly through the bureaucracy, but could be made public as soon as early next year.

House Democrats said Dec. 4 that a deal on the stalled U.S.-Mexico-Canada free-trade agreement is within reach and urged Mexico to accept a compromise on labor-rights enforcement.

California’s rebate program to coax more drivers to buy electric vehicles just got less generous, especially for those looking to spend on a luxury model.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy recently announced more than $161 million in municipal aid grants for hundreds of cities and towns. 

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow is developing a new plan to bolster biofuel-blending requirements after ethanol allies in politically important farm states complained the current proposal doesn’t do enough to compensate for waivers exempting some small refineries from the mandates.