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.
Trump Signs $1.3 Trillion Budget After Threatening Veto
President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending measure March 23 averting a government shutdown at midnight, acting just hours after saying he was considering a veto.
China Hits Back at Trump With Planned Tariffs on $3 Billion of US Imports
China announced plans for reciprocal tariffs on $3 billion of imports from the U.S., including products from steel to pork, after President Donald Trump’s move to order levies on a range of Chinese goods sent markets plunging.
March 23, 2018SmartDrive Launches New Platform, Sees Growth in Fleets Using Company's Technology
SmartDrive Systems, a provider of video systems and analysis for fleets and drivers, is launching a new risk-management platform that combines data from a variety of sources.
March 23, 2018Fleets Look to Predictive Analytics
The term “predictive analytics” is becoming increasingly familiar within the trucking industry as fleets look to make better use of the data collected by their back-office and onboard systems.
After Uber Crash, Florida Still Welcomes Free-Range Robot Cars
The anything-goes approach meant to bring autonomous vehicles to Florida won’t change after the first fatal collision.
ELDs Hot Topic at MATS as April Enforcement Ramp-Up Nears
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The federal mandate of electronic logging devices has been in effect since late last year, but some truckers still have lingering questions about the finer points of the regulation as tougher enforcement nears.
Editorial: A Proper Pause for Safety’s Sake
The decision by Uber to halt testing of its autonomous trucks in the wake of a fatal accident involving one of its pilot autonomous cars was a prudent move, and one that demonstrates how the relentless pace of technological innovation sometimes needs a pause.
March 22, 2018Trump Slaps Tariffs on $50 Billion Worth of Chinese Goods
President Donald Trump took his boldest step to level the economic playing field with China, ordering sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods in a move that could escalate already-tense trade relations between the world’s two biggest economies.
PHMSA Requests Input on Transporting Hazardous Materials With Automated Technologies
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has requested information on the use of automated technologies in the transportation of hazardous materials, according to a document published in the Federal Register March 22.
California Transportation Commission Adopts Infrastructure Improvement Plan
The California Transportation Commission adopted the 2018 State Transportation Improvement Program, which is expected to fund more than $3 billion in transportation projects over the next five years, at a March 21 meeting.