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The U.S. Senate plans to work through much of what would have been its August recess, an event about as rare as the sighting of a white rhino. Here's what they hope to accomplish then, as well as what's ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill this week.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Senate’s top transportation funding leader, expressed pessimism over whether her chamber would advance a long-term infrastructure measure this year, a sentiment shared by the Trump White House.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) indicated he may propose a provision aimed at assisting livestock haulers struggling with electronic logging device requirements when the Appropriations Committee considers a fiscal 2019 transportation funding bill June 7.

In a small side room at Washington’s Union Station, this year’s Infrastructure Week kicked off with a keynote address from Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. She again pointed to the private sector and state and municipal officials as being the key drivers on infrastructure funding. Before the secretary’s address, Austin, Texas, Mayor Steve Adler had offered the infrastructure intelligentsia in attendance a different message. A look at the week ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill.

For those competing in the tanker class at the National Truck Driving Championships in August, watch out for the guy whom peers call the Tom Brady or LeBron James of trucking.

A key trucking provision tucked in an aviation reauthorization bill in the Senate and bills that would keep the U.S. Department of Transportation funded through fiscal 2019 await members of Congress when they return June 4 to Washington from the Memorial Day recess.

The unofficial start of the summer driving season is finally upon us and that means for millions of drivers it will be that time again to hire a dogsitter, pack the swimsuits, sunblock and folding chairs, and drive to the beach (or lake, or pool) to stay cool.