Tag Archive for ‘highway’

Time to Thaw Federal Freeze on State Truck Regulations

This blog post by Diane Katz, originally appeared in “The Foundry” on June 3rd. It’s been two decades since Congress seized from states the authority to regulate the size of the biggest trucks traveling the highways. But what started as a temporary “freeze” on state rule-making predictably turned into a permanent federal usurpation of state [...]

Guest blogger NTSB Chairman Debbie Hersman: Getting a Glimpse of Life on the Road

This blog post by National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Debbie Hersman, originally appeared in  “NTSB Safety Compass” on April 6th. Last week, I had the opportunity to get a glimpse into what life is like for the professional truck drivers who drive the heavy trucks on our nation’s highways to deliver the goods — and [...]

You Have to Ask Yourself Why?

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a regulatory proposal that would revise the hours-of-service (HOS) requirements for commercial truck drivers. Why you ask? In October 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) signed an HOS litigation settlement agreement with the Teamsters Union and Public Citizen. [...]

Train Robbery?

This fall, when President Obama supported the decision by Maine and Vermont to extend higher truck weight allowances on their highways, it was a vote for increasing the productivity of trucking on these states’ highways. Bill Graves, president of ATA, added context to the importance of this decision: “Existing restrictions on truck weight limits constrain [...]

It’s Time to Create Sustainable Funding for Transportation Infrastructure

As those of us in the transportation industry are all too aware, America’s infrastructure of roads and bridges is crumbling, and cash-strapped states are digging deep to find funds to take on the problem. It won’t be cheap and it won’t be easy — a recent Transportation Funding Study found that more than $3 billion [...]

While the Highway Trust Fund Collapses, the Federal Government Spends Billions for “High-Speed” Passenger Rail

If you are looking for news from Washington that will brighten your day, please stop reading now! Since the 1950s when legislation was enacted to build the Interstate Highway System, Congress has passed, and the President has signed into law, a renewal of the federal commitment to surface transportation infrastructure every few years. While initially [...]

The US DOT’s Disappointing Strategic Plan

At a time when it is increasingly acknowledged that the federal government is on an unsustainable fiscal course, you would think the first thing a cabinet agency’s new strategic plan would do is attempt to figure out which of its historical functions are truly federal and should be continued. But that sort of prioritization is [...]

Several Truths About Modal Competition in the United States

Truth #1: Truckers and railroaders do not get along.  I sometimes like to pose provocative questions to groups of truckers or railroaders (but not both together) to watch the impassioned discussion that ensues. Truth #2: Demand for transportation was rising steadily before the recent recession.  Although much of the increase is attributed to rising GDP, [...]

The Tragic Cost of Wasteful Tax Policy on Michigan’s Highways

According to a national transportation research group, poor road conditions cost Michigan motorists over $2 billion annually. These costs harm Michigan families and damage the competitiveness of Michigan businesses. Instead of directing funds to this important need, federal policies are diverting taxpayer dollars to wasteful purposes and Michigan citizens and businesses are paying more in [...]

Hey, That’s My Ox!

A recent article about the truck versus rail debate got me thinking about the old adage, “It all depends on whose ox is being gored.” Though the origin of this unique phrase appears to be largely unknown (my research traces it back to President Abraham Lincoln and before), it’s not too difficult to glean its [...]