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.
Shipping Conditions Index Rises in April
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index increased one point in April, but the rise does not signal real improvement in trucking capacity which remains tight, according to the firm.
June 17, 2014TT Podcasts: RoadSigns
Volvo's Chayene de Souza and Magnus Gustafson discuss how new, connected trucks can boost business, enhance safety practices, and reinforce preventative maintenance plans.
Consumer Prices Increase by Most in More Than a Year
The consumer price index increased 0.4% in May, the biggest advance since February 2013, after climbing 0.3% the prior month, a Labor Department reported.
June 17, 2014Schumer to Foxx: Step it Up on ELDs
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is calling on Transportation Sec. Anthony Foxx to speed up the rulemaking process that will put electronic logging devices on all trucks to help monitor hours of service compliance.
CVSA Head: Study HOS Impact, But Don't Make Changes Now
Congress should not make changes to the current hours-of-service rule, the executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance said June 16.
Schumer Calls for Raising Insurance Requirements for Truck Companies
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on June 16 he would push to raise the minimum insurance liability that truck companies are required to hold when the Senate considers a fiscal 2015 transportation funding bill as early as June 17.
Booker, Menendez Aim to Repeal HOS Suspension
New Jersey’s senators said Monday they will lead a coordinated effort to undo a provision in a fiscal 2015 transportation funding bill that calls for the one-year suspension of last year’s changes to the hours-of-service restart rules.
Feinstein Vows to Keep Fighting Senate’s HOS Restart Measure
With a fiscal 2015 transportation funding bill expected on the Senate floor this week, senior Democrats are gearing up to challenge a provision in the bill that would suspend last year’s changes to the hours-of-service restart rules.
June 16, 2014New Century’s Shutdown Leaves Workers Scrambling
New Century Transportation Inc., which reported $267 million in revenue last year but was plagued by funding problems, abruptly shut down and filed for bankruptcy last week, leaving nearly 1,600 workers scrambling to find new jobs.
June 16, 2014DeFazio Unveils Proposal to Alter Fuel-Tax System
WASHINGTON — Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) introduced a bill last week to replace the federal gasoline tax with a barrel tax on oil, eliminate the sales tax on truck tires and index the diesel tax to inflation.
June 16, 2014House Approves Fiscal 2015 Spending Bill, Blocks Increasing Minimum Insurance Levels
The GOP-led House last week narrowly passed a fiscal 2015 transportation funding bill, which included a measure to prohibit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from raising minimum liability insurance requirements for trucking and bus companies.
June 16, 2014