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.
Idaho Gov. Signs Anti-Indemnification Law, Approves Heavier Trucks
Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has signed bills that will protect truckers from unfair shipping contracts and make permanent a 129,000-pound weight limit for trucks on state routes.
TT 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.
Ohio Transportation Law Will Raise Speed Limit to 70 MPH
Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) signed a two-year, $7.6 billion transportation measure into law that will raise the top speed limit on the state’s interstate highways to 70 mph, news reports said.
April 3, 2013Expansion in Service Sector Slows in March
Expansion slowed in the U.S. economy’s service sector in March, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday.
April 3, 2013Utah Mulls Allowing 80-MPH Speed Limits in Some Areas
State transportation officials in Utah said Monday they will first conduct an analysis of speed-related crash data before deciding whether to increase the speed limit to 80-mph on three stretches of rural Interstates.
FMCSA Shuts Ga. Carrier for Not Cooperating With Investigators
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ordered Atlanta-based Southern Transportation Inc. to stop operating, using new authority that allows the agency to shut down carriers that refuse to release safety records to investigators.
Maryland Senate Approves Fuel-Tax Increase
Maryland’s Senate passed a bill to increase the state’s taxes on diesel and gasoline and tie them to inflation to pay for transportation projects, sending the measure to Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) for his expected signature.
April 1, 2013Obama Touts Infrastructure Spending During Visit to Port of Miami
President Obama promoted the benefits of infrastructure spending during a visit to the Port of Miami, pushing for more money in a plan he said would attract private money for roads, bridges and other transportation projects, the Associated Press reported.
April 1, 2013Opinion: Safety, Litigation and CSA Data
Despite what may be a less than favorable public image, virtually every significant truck safety innovation over the past 30 years originated within the trucking industry.
April 1, 2013FMCSA Tries to Ease Industry’s Fears of CSA With Seminar at Mid-America Trucking Show
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An official with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration came to the Mid-America Trucking Show to help disprove what he called common myths about the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program.
April 1, 2013EPA Proposes New Gasoline Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency Friday unveiled a proposal for a new regulation aimed at reducing the content of sulfur and other smog-forming compounds in gasoline.
March 29, 2013