Safety

WASHINGTON — Ensuring the safety of motorists on the country’s roadways is the primary focus of the U.S. Department of Transportation as it implements policies specific to trucking in a new infrastructure law, senior department officials said.

The United States Supreme Court on Jan. 13 blocked enforcement of the Biden administration’s proposed sweeping vaccine rules, which would have required companies with more than 100 employees — including trucking companies — to ensure workers receive a COVID-19 vaccine or undergo weekly testing and wear a mask.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has formally announced establishment of the truck driver apprenticeship program that was included in last year’s sweeping $1 trillion infrastructure bill, an initiative that will train candidates younger than 21 to drive in interstate commerce for the first time ever.

The federal regulatory landscape for transportation operations must prioritize safety, economic growth and climate change, the leadership at the U.S. Department of Transportation recently affirmed in a series of guiding principles.

Daimler Trucks North America offered an early peek into the engineering and design work behind its SuperTruck II concept vehicle, which the manufacturer plans to unveil later this year.

Federal trucking regulators are seeking emergency White House approval to take a first step toward a driver apprenticeship program included in last year’s sweeping $1 trillion infrastructure bill as a near-term measure to help alleviate the trucking industry’s ongoing driver shortage.

The Supreme Court appears divided on legal challenges centering on the scope and federal authority of the Biden administration’s sweeping proposed COVID vaccine mandate, which would require private-sector firms to vaccinate or test tens of millions of employees.

An all-volunteer effort is working with educators to help raise awareness of truck driving careers among students.

In an effort to avert financial shortfalls for highway programs due to the coronavirus pandemic, a number of states have raised their tolls for cars and trucks, effective Jan. 1.

The Jan. 4 announcement appears to be a significant step in that direction. According to the governor’s office, the overall concept calls for $231.6 million in investment in rail projects “to upgrade economic development infrastructure in central and southern Alabama.”