Government

About Government News...

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.

Government, Business

ELD Exemption for Livestock Haulers Part of Fiscal 2019 Congressional Funding Deal

Included in the law signed by President Trump Feb. 15 that funds federal agencies through fiscal 2019 is a provision that exempts livestock and insect haulers from the electronic logging device requirement.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
February 14, 2019
Government, Business, Fuel

New ARTBA President to Congress: Fix the Highway Trust Fund

WASHINGTON — Dave Bauer, the new leader of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, said he believes that raising and indexing federal fuel taxes is the best way to achieve sustainable funding for infrastructure upgrades needed around the country.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
February 14, 2019
Government, Business, Safety

Truck Parking Shortage Costs Drivers $4,600 a Year, Expert Says

ORLANDO, Fla. — The difficulty of finding truck parking is pushing drivers out of the business and contributing to the industry’s persistent driver shortage, according to experts who spoke at the Natso annual convention, held here Feb. 10-13.

Dan Ronan | Senior Reporter
February 14, 2019
Government, Business, Logistics

Amazon Ditches Plans for New York Headquarters

Amazon.com is pulling out of a plan to build a headquarters in New York City, after a backlash from some residents and politicians, the e-commerce giant said.

Alistair Barr | Bloomberg News
February 14, 2019
Government, Business, Technology, Fuel

Los Angeles Nixes Plan to Upgrade Three Natural Gas Generators

Los Angeles will ditch a plan to spend billions rebuilding three natural gas-fired power plants as the city moves toward getting all of its electricity from renewable energy.

Mark Chediak | Bloomberg News
February 14, 2019
Government, Safety, TCA

Ohio DOT Chief Paints Dire Picture of State’s Infrastructure Funding

The state transportation director gave Ohio lawmakers a blunt assessment of Ohio’s road construction money situation Feb. 13, and it wasn’t pretty.

Jim Siegel | The Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio)
February 13, 2019
Government, Business

ATA President Chris Spear Urges Senate Panel to Fund Infrastructure Projects Long Term

WASHINGTON — Sustainable funding for construction and maintenance of large-scale infrastructure projects nationwide is needed to address wasted economic productivity from traffic congestion and the potential harm older structures pose to drivers, the top executive of American Trucking Associations told a Senate committee Feb. 13.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
February 13, 2019
Government, Business, Technology, Safety, Fuel

AAR Supports Gas Tax, Vehicle-Miles-Traveled Measure to Fund Infrastructure

WASHINGTON — A vehicle-miles-traveled tax would present a good long-term solution for funding the nation’s infrastructure, while higher fuel taxes could address more near-term needs, representatives from the Association of American Railroads said.

Jim Stinson | Staff Reporter
February 13, 2019
Government

ATA President Chris Spear Testifying at Senate Infrastructure Hearing

American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee on Feb. 13 to outline myriad concerns within the freight industry about the country’s infrastructure. Testimony has concluded; read Spear's opening statement.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
February 13, 2019
Government, Business, Technology, Logistics

Tesla Racing to Get Model 3s to China Before Potential Tariff Hike

Tesla Inc. is loading as many Model 3 sedans as it can onto vessels destined for the People’s Republic ahead of March 1, when a trade-war truce between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping is scheduled to expire.

Dana Hull | Bloomberg News
February 13, 2019