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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.