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.
Letters: EOBRs Revisited, Hours of Service, Infrastructure
Regarding the letter with the headline “EOBRs Revisited,” there was a very interesting guest commentary about electronic onboard recorders recently in another publication, in which the author claimed only 2% of crashes occur after more than 10 hours of driving time.
February 8, 2010CSA 2010 Is a ‘Game Changer’
If it works as advertised, trucking’s new safety rating machinery will be as quick and as responsive as a sports car when compared to the old, glacial way of doing things.
February 8, 2010DOT Budget Proposes $4 Billion for New Infrastructure Bank
The Obama administration last week proposed a $4 billion “down payment” on a national infrastructure bank to supplement traditional highway funding, as part of its $78.8 billion budget proposal for the Department of Transportation.
February 8, 2010Report Says Thefts Rising, But Fleets Question Data
Cargo theft increased sharply in 2009, according to an international insurer and a security firm, although two major carriers said they had experienced a drop in losses from theft and American Trucking Associations said good statistics were hard to come by.
February 8, 2010States May Not Enforce Ban on Texting, Law Officials Say
Law enforcement officials said they may not strictly enforce the Transportation Department’s recent ban on texting by commercial drivers until the government issues a specific regulation rather than reinterpretations of current rules, officials told Transport Topics.
February 8, 2010Execs Warn on CSA 2010
SAN DIEGO — CSA 2010, the new federal safety monitoring and rating system for motor carriers, is likely to be the most important and potentially disruptive federal policy development for trucking to come out of Washington this year, fleet executives and industry watchers said last week.
February 8, 2010SEC Issues Guidelines to Help Companies Assess Effects of Climate-Change Laws, Rules
The Securities and Exchange Commission for the first time has voted to issue guidelines to help public companies decide whether climate change laws and regulations will have a material effect on their businesses.
February 8, 2010UPS Posts $757 Mln. Profit as Air Shipments Increase
UPS Inc. said it benefited from a sharp increase in December air shipments out of Asia and a busy holiday season to post profits for the fourth quarter and the full year.
February 8, 2010TMC Meeting Offers ‘Glimpse’ Of Technology, Fleet Guidance
Fleet maintenance professionals in Tampa, Fla., are taking in a glimpse of future trucks while discussing tips for management in the present at the Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting, through Feb. 12.
February 8, 2010Obama Plan for High-Speed Rail Raises Concerns at Freight Firms
The Obama administration’s $8.5 billion plan to advance U.S. high-speed rail programs is being questioned by trucking interests and the freight railroads whose tracks would host most of the new services, officials in both industries said.
February 8, 2010