Transportation Secretary Buttigieg shares views on federal trucking policy

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From Transport Topics. During his debut as the country’s top transportation officer on Feb. 5 at Washington’s Union Station, Secretary Pete Buttigieg insisted that massive investments are needed to repair infrastructure projects. Buttigieg, and President Joe Biden, say they intend to build highways, bridges, tunnels, ports and railways in a better way. And by that,…

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Trucking employment dipped in January – a first since April

From Commercial Carrier Journal. The number of payroll jobs in the for-hire trucking industry fell by 2,900 jobs in January, according to preliminary data released Friday by the Department of Labor in its monthly Employment Situation Summary. That’s the first month since April that trucking industry employment fell from the month prior. The slowdown in…

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Legislative Alert: Gov. Lamont again proposes taxes targeting trucking

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Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has announced multiple legislative proposals which target the trucking industry. One is a new mileage tax known as the Highway Use Tax (HUT). The Connecticut HUT will be imposed specifically on classifications 8 through 13, which means tractor trailers. Here are the proposed rates for the tax, based on the weight…

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US House Transportation Panel delves into COVID concerns

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From Transport Topics. The new year means a new session of Congress and the opportunity to achieve reforms across the federal landscape. To do so, lawmakers point to the need to push ahead on a resolution to the coronavirus pandemic. This week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee scheduled a hearing to assess the pandemic’s…

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“Mayor Pete” becomes Transportation Secretary Buttigieg

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From Fleet Owner. Pete Buttigieg was confirmed as secretary of transportation on Feb. 2, taking over the U.S. Department of Transportation that oversees billions of dollars in highway construction funds and the trucking industry. The U.S. Senate voted, 86-13, to confirm the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., making Buttigieg the first openly gay confirmed…

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Fuel prices up for 11th straight week, highest mark since March 2020

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From Overdrive Online. Diesel fuel prices across the U.S. increased for the 11th straight week during the week ending Jan. 18, according to the Department of Energy’s weekly report. According to DOE, the average price for a gallon of on-highway diesel is $2.696, up 2.6 cents from the previous week and up 32.4 cents from…

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Clearinghouse records more than 56,000 violations in 2020

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From Transport Topics. More than 56,000 drug and alcohol violations were recorded last year in a database intended to track truck drivers’ compliance history and prevent them from job-hopping in the event of a failed drug test. The number of driver violations reported rose by roughly 10,000 over the final two months of 2020, the…

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Logistics property rents step higher amid pandemic — Prologis report

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From Freight Waves. Global rents on industrial real estate properties increased 2.9% during 2020, according to logistics real estate giant Prologis Inc. (NYSE: PLD) Even with several sectors of the economy meaningfully impacted by the pandemic, tenants were willing to pay up for logistics space. The San Francisco-based company published its annual Logistics Rent Index…

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[Updated] Tractor trailer ban due to snow storm

Governor Lamont has issued an amended Executive Order regarding the tractor trailer travel ban. The ban on tandems and empty trailers has been extended to apply to all limited access highways. The list of exemptions to the ban has been slightly expanded, specifically, to include food, medical supplies, and fuel. A copy of the amended…

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Biden appoints slew of DOT officials

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From Transport Topics. President Joe Biden has appointed Meera Joshi to serve as deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Joshi’s appointment Jan. 21, the day after Biden’s inauguration. Joshi represents one of 40 people who were appointed to federal government posts that day. Joshi previously served…

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