Federal regulators issued a proposed rule May 13 that would prohibit motor carriers, shippers, receivers or transportation intermediaries from coercing drivers to violate hours-of-service limits, drug and alcohol testing or hazardous materials rules, and other regulations that could jeopardize safety.
May 13, 2014GovernmentBusiness
Printouts of Onboard Recording Device Records Not Required, FMCSA Says
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued regulatory guidance clarifying that commercial motor vehicles equipped with automatic onboard recording devices do not need to supply print outs of their hours records to inspectors.
May 13, 2014GovernmentBusiness
ELDs Significantly Reduce Crashes, FMCSA Study Says
A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study released May 12 concludes that longhaul trucks with electronic logging devices had significantly lower crash rates than those without them.
May 12, 2014GovernmentBusiness
Lawmakers to Unveil $8.2 Billion Bill That Deepens Ports Ahead of Panama Canal Expansion
House and Senate transportation leaders said they would unveil an $8.2 billion water policy bill that would approve the deepening of U.S. ports to accommodate larger ships traveling through an expanded Panama Canal next year.
May 12, 2014EditorialGovernmentBusiness
Editorial: Transport Policy Heroes
The recent death of former Rep. James Oberstar, paired with last month’s retirement announcement from Rep. Tom Petri, leaves us casting about for heroes in transportation who would work in the manner of the late Minnesota Democrat and the departing Wisconsin Republican.
May 12, 2014GovernmentBusiness
House Subcommittee Approves $52 Billion Transportation, Housing Spending Bill
House appropriators on May 7 easily approved a $52 billion spending bill that would fund transportation and housing programs in fiscal 2015.
May 8, 2014GovernmentBusiness
Senate EPW Panel to Mark Up Transportation Bill May 15
The top transportation policy writers in the Senate said they would introduce a six-year transportation bill May 12 and scheduled the bill’s committee consideration for May 15, more than two weeks after the Obama administration unveiled its four-year proposal.
May 8, 2014BusinessGovernmentAutonomous
Cass Freight Shipment Index Rises 5.5% Over April 2013
The Cass Freight Index of shipments moved primarily by truck hit the highest level in nearly two years last month, increasing 5.5% over April 2013.
May 7, 2014GovernmentBusiness
Boxer to Unveil Long-Term Transportation Bill
The top transportation authorizer in the Senate said she would unveil a long-term transportation bill May 8, responding to concerns raised by industry and government officials over a dwindling federal highway account that supports infrastructure projects.
May 7, 2014Government
FTR Trucking Conditions Index Rises in March
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index rose in March, reflecting extremely tight capacity in the truckload sector, the group said.
May 7, 2014