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.
Innovation in DOTs Often Starts With On-the-Ground Employees, Experts Say
WASHINGTON— Transportation employees who work alongside roads and behind the wheels of maintenance vehicles can offer valuable perspectives on worthwhile projects, according to panelists gathered to discuss innovation at the Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting Jan. 15.
US Factories Brace for Sting of 2019 Trade War
America’s manufacturers are scrambling to change the way they do business — from finding new suppliers to shifting more finishing work overseas — as the sting of tariffs begins to take a bigger toll on their bottom lines.
Missing Data During Shutdown Complicates Consumer Spending Reports
The U.S. growth outlook hangs more than ever on American consumers’ resilience amid stock market swoons and trade-war tensions, but key data on their spending — the biggest part of the economy — will be missing due to the government shutdown.
Core Producer Prices Decline for First Time in a Year
A key measure of U.S. producer prices unexpectedly fell in December and the overall gauge declined more than forecast amid lower oil prices, signaling potential inflation pressures in the economy are contained.
Oil Gains as US Stockpiles Seen Falling, China Plans Tax Cuts
Oil rose amid estimates of another decline in U.S. crude inventories and signs that China is stepping up efforts to combat an economic slowdown.
Robotic Vehicles, Loading Zone Updates Seen as Tools for Final-Mile Delivery
WASHINGTON — More freight is moving and e-commerce is booming, but there is a finite amount of urban space for road use and parking for delivery vehicles. It’s a problem known as the final mile, and it’s especially profound in cities.
Capitol Agenda for the Week of Jan. 14: The Transportation Industry's Big 12
Organizers for this year's gathering of the Transportation Research Board in Washington have come up with a list of a dozen topic areas that policymakers need to address to ensure a sustainable transportation network.
Diesel Down 3.7¢ to $2.976 a Gallon in 13th Straight Decline
The U.S. average retail price of diesel dropped 3.7 cents to $2.976 a gallon, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Jan. 14, even as crude oil prices climbed above $50 per barrel.
Infrastructure Funding: Can Automated Weigh Station Screening Be a Revenue Source?
WASHINGTON — Automated weigh station technology can generate money for state transportation and law enforcement agencies, according to Andrew Martin, a senior research scientist at the University of Kentucky’s Transportation Center.
Fuel Producers, ATA Seek Supreme Court Review of Oregon Low-Carbon Fuel Program
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and American Trucking Associations have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject an appeals court ruling that upheld the state of Oregon’s program to reduce the carbon intensity of fuel by 10% by 2025.