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The Senate on July 29 easily voted to send the House a nearly $8 billion bill that would fund federal highway programs through December, a move meant to force lawmakers to agree on a long-term funding plan for transportation construction projects nationwide.

Outgoing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration head Anne Ferro defended her agency’s regulations limiting the amount of time drivers are allowed to work, during what probably was her last appearance before Congress as the agency’s chief.

The chairman of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee on July 28 criticized the primary source of funding for a House bill that would shore up the Highway Trust Fund, a day before the Senate is expected to vote on the legislation.

Commercial truck crossings into the United States from Mexico and Canada increased 1.1% to 10.8 million in 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Safety concerns stemming from several recent truck accidents have prompted Senate transportation leaders to schedule a hearing July 29 to press regulators about their initiatives for improving highway safety.

The Senate on July 24 easily confirmed the nominations of two Transportation Department officials for senior positions.

The federal government proposed to phase out older tank cars and lower speed limits for some oil trains in an effort to mitigate transportation risks posed by the nation’s energy boom.

Senators have reached an agreement on how to debate a highway funding bill, setting up floor votes on the measure early next week, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute received $55 million in federal contracts to study safety efforts for commercial truck drivers and automated vehicles.