Government

About Government News...

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.

Government, Business, Safety, Logistics, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous

NTSB Recommends Video Recorders on Heavy Trucks and Buses

The National Transportation Safety Board on April 29 issued a recommendation that heavy truck and bus fleet operators deploy in-cab video system recorder technology to monitor their drivers.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
April 30, 2015

Daily Briefings from Transport Topics

Transport Topics has partnered with Spoken Layer to make one-minute daily briefings available on all your smart devices. Simply say “Alexa, play Transport Topics” or “Okay Google, talk to Transport Topics” to get the day’s biggest trucking headlines.

Government, Business

Rep. Paul Ryan Says Short-Term Highway Patch to Be Unveiled in Three Weeks

WASHINGTON — Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), chairman of the tax-writing committee in the House, said April 30 that in about three weeks he will unveil a short-term measure that would keep highway programs funded for several months, or probably through the end of the year.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
April 30, 2015
Government, Business

Rep. Hanna Criticizes HOS Study Researchers

WASHINGTON — Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) said he does not think a university reviewing a recently suspended hours-of-service rule for truckers will reach a fair conclusion when it unveils its report later this year.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
April 29, 2015
Government, Business

Finance Panel Democrats Press for Highway Funding Hearing

The 12 Democrats on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee called on the panel’s chairman to hold a hearing to explore ways for keeping highway programs funded after May.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
April 29, 2015
Government, Business, Safety

Restart Rider in Appropriations Bill Could Extend Suspension

A House appropriations bill unveiled this week contains a rider on the 34-hour restart that adds new requirements on the study Congress ordered last year, meaning suspension of the restart could be extended beyond September.

Michele Fuetsch | Staff Reporter
April 29, 2015
Government

Economy Stalls on Slump in Business Spending, Exports

The economy in the U.S. barely grew in the first quarter, buffeted by slumps in business investment and exports after oil prices plunged and the dollar surged.

April 29, 2015
Government, Business, Safety, Autonomous

FMCSA Ends Driver Recruitment for Restart Study

Federal regulators said they have exceeded their goal of recruiting more than 225 truck driver volunteers to participate in an hours-of-service 34-hour restart study.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
April 29, 2015
Business, Government

NPTC Inducts Four Drivers Into Hall of Fame

CINCINNATI — The National Private Truck Council honored four drivers for a lifetime of safely delivering goods on the nation’s highways at the Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition here April 27.

Daniel P. Bearth | Staff Writer
April 28, 2015
Government, Business, Fuel, Safety, Technology, Equipment

Temporary Funding Bill Still Up in the Air, Chairman Bill Shuster Says

WASHINGTON — With only 33 days left to pass a temporary funding extension for the nation’s transportation system, the man who heads the House Transportation Committee said he doesn’t know where the money will come from or how long the extension will last.    

Michele Fuetsch | Staff Reporter
April 28, 2015
Government, Business, Safety, Autonomous

House Transportation Funding Leaders Unveil Fiscal 2016 Bill

The transportation funding panel in the House on April 28 released legislation that would provide $572 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the agency that oversees the trucking industry.

April 28, 2015