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.
Inefficient Intermodal Terminals Slowing Supply Chain, Execs Say
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Efforts to improve intermodal productivity continue to be frustrated by inefficient terminal operations that punish truckers.
Tire Makers Expect GHG Proposal to Boost Low-Resistance Model Sales
Federal regulators have taken steps to push the trucking industry toward greater adoption of low-rolling-resistance tires on trucks and trailers in the years ahead, but developing these increasingly efficient tires involves more than simply tweaking a rubber compound, manufacturers said.
Intermodal Cargo Market Growth Shifts as International Accelerates, Experts Say
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — International freight has re-emerged as the driving force for intermodal growth because factors such as lower diesel prices and suboptimal rail service have slowed increases in domestic truck-rail freight, experts said.
ACT Says Tractor Sales to Set Record, Sees Solid Year Ahead for Fleet Profits
ORLANDO, Fla. — Retail sales of new Class 8 tractors in the United States remain on pace to set a new record this year, according to a leading industry analyst.
EPA Official Says GHG Final Rule on Track to Be Published During 2nd Quarter of 2016
ORLANDO, Fla. — An Environmental Protection Agency official said the federal government remains on track to issue a final rule during the second quarter of 2016 that will further tighten the trucking industry’s greenhouse-gas emissions.
Diesel Price Declines 2.4¢ to $2.493, Lowest Level in More Than Six Years
The average price of diesel fuel in the United States fell 2.4 cents a gallon to $2.493, the lowest level since June 2009, according to the Department of Energy.
DOT’s Foxx Touts White House Push to Expedite Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx touted the Obama administration’s effort to streamline infrastructure projects through certain improvements to the Federal Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard.
Truckers Balk at Having to Pay To Reserve Parking, ATRI Says
Nearly half of commercial vehicle drivers in a survey by American Transportation Research Institute said they would refuse to pay for reserved parking.
Prices for Used Trucks Soften; Analysts Expect More Declines
The average sales price for used Class 8 vehicles softened in August amid a strong supply of lower-mileage aerodynamic sleepers and a continuing trend of price depreciation in the market overall, analysts said.
Economy Picks Up on Consumer Spending, Construction
The world’s largest economy expanded more than previously forecast in the second quarter, boosted by gains in consumer spending and construction that may help the United States withstand a global slowdown.