Government
Amazon Bid to Delay Union Vote Rejected

The National Labor Relations Board has rejected Amazon .com Inc.’s request to delay a unionization vote at the company’s Bessemer, Ala., warehouse, clearing the way for the closely watched election to begin next week
February 5, 2021TT Podcasts: RoadSigns
Arizona DOT’s I-15 Bridge Replacement Project Aims to Help Commerce Flow
In an effort to facilitate the flow of commerce, the Arizona Department of Transportation is starting work to replace a bridge that carries Interstate 15.
February 5, 2021Employers Add Just 49,000 Jobs as Unemployment Falls to 6.3%
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added just 49,000 jobs in January, a sign that the viral pandemic retains a tight grip on the economy nearly a year after it triggered a painful recession.
February 5, 2021Trade Deficit Rises to $679 Billion, the Highest Since 2008

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit rose 17.7% last year to $679 billion, highest since 2008, as the coronavirus disrupted global commerce and confounded President Donald Trump’s attempts to rebalance America’s trade with the rest of the world.
February 5, 2021Automakers Push for Congressional Movement on AV Rules
A group of nearly four-dozen automakers, industry advocacy groups and corporations sent a letter to Congressional leaders Feb. 3 urging action on legislation that would allow for greater deployment of autonomous vehicles.
February 4, 2021Trump Administration Independent Contractor Actions Face Uncertainty
The U.S. Department of Labor is backing off a pair of actions issued in the waning days of the Trump administration that were widely perceived to be favorable to motor carriers’ use of independent contractors.
February 4, 2021US Unemployment Claims Fall to 779,000; Job Cuts Grind On
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits declined to 779,000 in the week ended Jan. 30, a still historically high total that shows that a sizable number of people keep losing jobs to the pandemic.
February 4, 2021California Court Rejects Suit Challenging Independent Contractor Exemption

The California Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit Feb. 3 that sought to overturn a ballot measure that makes app-based ride-hailing and delivery drivers independent contractors instead of employees eligible for benefits and job protections.
February 4, 2021Google Seeks OK to Test Drones for Firefighting

Google asked the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for permission to test drones to research how the technology can help monitor and control fires.
February 3, 2021California Leads in Electric Vehicle Policies, Practices, Energy Nonprofit Says
California is by far the national leader in enabling the use of electric cars and medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks, according to a state-by-state evaluation of electric vehicle policies and practices compiled by a leading nonprofit energy efficiency group.
February 3, 2021