Transportation Compliance News

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

'Let the Wookiee Win': Iowa DOT Invokes Star Wars for Highway Safety

Put down your phone while driving, you will, or to the Dark Side it will lead.

December 16, 2015
Government

Fed Hikes Interest Rates

The Federal Reserve System announced Dec. 16 a quarter-point increase in its benchmark target for interest rates, acting because “the risks to the outlook for both economic activity and the labor market" are balanced.

December 16, 2015
BusinessFuelSafetyGovernmentAutonomous

NACFE Report Urges Fleets to View Maintenance as Fuel-Economy Measure

Proper maintenance saves fuel. That was the key finding in the North American Council for Freight Efficiency’s latest Trucking Efficiency Confidence Report covering maintenance, the group said in releasing the report.

December 16, 2015
GovernmentBusinessEquipmentSafety

Congress Rejects Twin 33s Trailer Provision in Funding Bill

A provision that would have authorized the use of twin 33-foot trailers nationwide did not make the final version of a large fiscal 2016 bill that would fund the federal government through September.

December 16, 2015
GovernmentLogistics

Canadian Pacific-Norfolk Southern Bid Raises Lawmakers' Concern

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.’s bid to merge with Norfolk Southern Corp. has raised concerns among Democratic lawmakers from Illinois, who sent a letter to regulators urging them to consider potential negative impacts on the Chicago rail hub.

December 16, 2015
Government

House Passes Customs Legislation; ATA Seeks Senate Approval

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 644 on Dec. 11, leaving full congressional approval in the hands of the Senate just days before the expected adjournment for the year.

December 15, 2015
GovernmentBusinessTechnologyEquipment

OOIDA Sues FMCSA Over ELD Mandate

A day after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released its final rule on the use of electronic logs for all trucks built since 2000, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association filed suit against the agency.

December 15, 2015
GovernmentBusiness

Financial Woes of Teamsters' Central States Pension Fund Hurt Employers, Too

The 225,000 people facing possible cuts in their retirement benefits are the most numerous and visible victims of the Central States Pension Fund troubles. But the fund's deep financial woes also have left hundreds of companies with large potential liabilities, essentially because they have survived where others failed.

December 14, 2015
Government

Oregon, Washington Receive Federal Emergency Funds for Storm Cleanup

The Federal Highway Administration has made $2 million in emergency relief funds available to the transportation departments in Oregon and Washington in the wake of the string of severe storms that began in the Pacific Northwest on Dec. 7.

December 14, 2015
BusinessGovernment

NHTSA Endorses Canadian Standard for Stronger Trailer Underride Guards

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week issued a proposed rule to upgrade U.S. standards for rear-impact guards that enhance truck and trailer underride protection, in an effort to reduce the severity of passenger vehicle crashes into the back of trailers.

December 14, 2015