Fed survey finds US economy being hurt by trade battles

From Associated Press via Transport Topics. The U.S. economy was expanding at a modest pace in September and into October despite the fact manufacturing was being hurt by rising trade tensions and weaker global growth while adverse weather was affecting farmers. The Federal Reserve, issuing its latest assessment of business conditions around the country, reported…

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Build now, pay later? It’s not going to be that easy

Connecticut Capital

From CT Mirror. As Gov. Ned Lamont fishes for legislative support for his new transportation plan, he’s dangling some juicy bait: hundreds of millions in low-interest federal loans that can rebuild infrastructure and jump-start Connecticut’s economy now — but don’t come due for 10 or 15 years. If that sounds a little too good to…

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Access ELD trainings and webinars from FMCSA

From FMCSA NEW: Interactive Training Courses FMCSA has created and posted two interactive ELD training courses to provide a refresher to help ensure that motor carriers and drivers subject to the ELD rule, and ELD providers, are prepared for the December 16, 2019 deadline for full conversion from AOBRDs to ELDs. Topics include data transfer…

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Lamont readies third transportation improvement plan for the state

From WTNH. Governor Ned Lamont told downstate business leaders he’s got a new, revised, scaled-down transportation improvement plan Monday. First, there was “trucks only tolls,” then, “tolls for all vehicles,” now, we appear to be on the verge of plan number three. Lamont said he’s almost ready to “roll out” a revised transportation improvement plan…

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FMCSA opens registration for CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

FMCSA logo

From FMCSA. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced that registration is now open for the Congressionally mandated Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, employers, medical review officers, and substance abuse professionals can now visit and register to create a secure online user account.…

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Transportation & Climate Initiative shares updates on regional low-carbon transportation policy development

trucks on highway

From Georgetown Climate Center. Jurisdictions participating in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) have made available a framework for a draft regional policy proposal to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from transportation, and are encouraging interested individuals and organizations to provide feedback on the draft framework through the TCI portal. This high-level framework represents an important…

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Unfinished business piles up at the Connecticut Capitol

Connecticut Capital

From CT Mirror. Since the regular General Assembly session wrapped on June 5, lawmakers have said they’d be back this fall to tackle unfinished business. A legal settlement with the hospital industry and a new state bond package have been on the to-do list since early June. Not long after that, Gov. Ned Lamont made…

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NCCI files annual recommendations

From Insurance Association of Connecticut. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has just filed with the CT Department of Insurance (CTDOI) its annual recommendations for advisory loss costs, assigned risk rates and rating values. According to this filing, NCCI generally recommends the following reductions: “The voluntary advisory loss costs, which are proposed to be…

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U.S. Department of Labor issues final overtime rule

From US Department of Labor. Today the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to make 1.3 million American workers eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The final rule updates the earnings thresholds necessary to exempt executive, administrative, or professional employees from the FLSA’s minimum wage and overtime pay…

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Bysiewicz pitches transportation plan: low interest federal loans, tolls for bridges

Connecticut State Flag

From Yankee Institute. Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz offered a look into Gov. Ned Lamont’s new transportation plan today during a public meeting before the Western Connecticut Council of Governments. The plan involves using low-interest federal loans available through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Act, part of the…

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