Mark Rosekind, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, has been nominated to run the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The White House made the announcement Nov. 19.
November 19, 2014GovernmentBusinessFuel
Key House Democrat DeFazio Sees Opportunity to Pass Long-Term Highway Bill Next Congress
Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, elected Nov. 19 as the House Democrats’ top transportation leader in the next Congress, told Transport Topics this week he is hopeful about Congress’ chances of advancing a long-term highway bill before the current law expires in May.
November 19, 2014Government
Michigan Lawmakers Might Switch Existing Fuel Tax for Wholesale Levy
The Michigan House may address a bill in December that was passed by the Senate last week to replace the state’s per-gallon levies on gasoline and diesel with a wholesale sales tax on fuel that would reach 15.5% by 2018.
November 18, 2014GovernmentBusinessTechnologyEquipment
Final ELD Rule Not Expected Til Late 2015, FMCSA Says
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration does not expect to publish its final rule mandating the use of electronic logging devices for carriers until Sept. 30, 2015, the agency said in its November significant rulemakings report.
November 18, 2014GovernmentBusiness
WSTA’s Hicks Calls on Congress to Pass Long-Term Highway Bill
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — At his group’s fall meeting, Western States Transportation Alliance Executive Director R.J. Hicks called on federal lawmakers to pass a long-term highway bill that gives states better financial guidance for planning infrastructure projects.
November 17, 2014GovernmentBusinessSafetyAutonomous
Congress Works On Omnibus Spending Bill
House and Senate Appropriations funding leaders plan to unveil a fiscal 2015 omnibus spending bill soon — a measure backed by trucking leaders hoping to turn back a law regulating how long a driver can be behind the wheel.
November 17, 2014Government
Senate Likely to Hold Confirmation Vote on NTSB’s Hart Before End of the Year
The Senate is expected to vote on the nomination of Christopher Hart to become chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, and possibly vote on the nominations of other senior transportation nominees, during the lame-duck period that runs through the end of December, a senior Democratic aide told reporters.
November 17, 2014Government
House Approves Keystone XL Pipeline
The House of Representatives easily approved construction of the Keystone XL pipeline Nov. 14, the first vote on the controversial issue since Congress returned to Washington this week for its lame duck session.
November 14, 2014GovernmentBusinessTechnologyEquipment
Few Drivers Harassed While Using Electronic Logging Devices, Survey Finds
About 2% of truck drivers who use electronic logging devices have experienced a carrier interaction that they considered to be harassment and that they associated with the HOS-logging capabilities of the ELD, according to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration driver survey released Nov. 13.
November 14, 2014Government
Consumer Sentiment Reaches Seven-Year High
Consumer confidence rose more than forecast in November, reaching a seven-year high and indicating Americans will be in the mood to step up holiday spending.
November 14, 2014