Regulatory Agencies

Freight transportation experts weigh in on Pete Buttigieg’s one-year mark as the secretary of transportation.

DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg touted holiday season wins at the ports of LA and Long Beach while addressing shipping-sector prices.

DOT wants to prepare for increased scrutiny as it gets ready to distribute half a trillion dollars in new infrastructure funds.

The leading spokesman in Washington for the world’s container trades offers his take on the implications of potential regulatory changes in 2022.

CBP and vessel operators will save money through a new rule requiring that crew-list inspections go paperless.

The White House will be “shining a light on profiteering” by ocean carriers in an effort to fend off inflation and keep supply chains moving.

Meera Joshi’s surprise departure from FMCSA is the latest in a string that may have the public wondering why the job is so difficult to fill.

From ocean shipping reform to vaccine mandates, the past year has been a backdrop for new and proposed government oversight and requirements affecting carriers and shippers.

OSHA extends compliance deadlines for its vaccination mandate to Jan. 10 and Feb. 9 as ATA takes the fight to the Supreme Court.

DOT officials aim to solve tightening constraints on truck parking by arming local officials with new information.

California drayage company Orange Avenue Express alleges ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd is forcing it to act as a storage facility for refrigerated containers.

An FMC shipper advisory recommends prioritizing container automation ahead of next year’s labor negotiations.

Ocean shipping reform legislation passed on Wednesday in the U.S. House as the Senate prepares companion legislation.

The World Shipping Council warns of too much government intrusion while taking heat for sky-high carrier profits.

An Office of Inspector General report said a shortage of commercial truck drivers may compromise the Postal Service’s surface transport capability.

President Biden intends to replace Postal Service governors in a move aimed at ousting Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, according to reports.

Eight California Republicans are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend or eliminate regulations and declare a state of emergency to address the supply chain crisis.

Federal regulators will soon begin analyzing how transportation data sharing can move more containers.

A federal appeals court has ruled that greenhouse gas emission standards do not apply to truck trailers.

A top Washington policymaker explains why lawmakers have to look beyond politics to make federal funding work for freight.

Lawmakers have introduced bills that would tap into unspent COVID-19 relief funds to help compensate vessel owners looking to reroute ships away from choked Southern California ports.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has offered assurances that billions of new tax dollars dedicated to infrastructure will be protected against fraud and mismanagement.

Federal regulators are calling for a “full and thorough review” of the proposed purchase of the largest port operator in the U.S. by a Canadian pension firm.

Solo drivers working for large trucking companies will likely be exempt from the Biden administration’s vaccine requirement, the industry’s largest lobby group has confirmed.

The agency bans shipping of vaping products, joining FedEx, UPS and DHL. Regional delivery firm LSO plans to expand vape shipping in its territory.

Military truck drivers and $1,000-per-chassis tax credit incentives are part of a slate of recommendations for the commerce secretary to consider to help unclog U.S. ports.

Some are questioning President Biden’s pick to lead the Maritime Administration for a lack of commercial shipping experience.

FRA Deputy Administrator Amit Bose testifies on crew size and LNG by rail at his nomination hearing.

Ocean carrier detention and demurrage practices will be the target of an upcoming proposed rule from the Federal Maritime Commission.

The Department of Transportation seeks “practical solutions” from the freight industry to alleviate container shortages and supply chain chokepoints.

U.S. agribusiness exporters claim they are poised to lose 22% of sales due to massive increases in container shipping rates.

President Biden has ordered companies of 100 or more employees to require workers to be vaccinated or tested weekly.

An FMC advisory committee has been formed amid ongoing shipper complaints of carrier market power abuse.

The maritime meeting among trade partners comes as container shipping remains hot.

Federal action addressing matters of concern in the rail industry, particularly regarding safety, seem to be an afterthought.

Legislation aimed at aerodynamic retrofits is expected to be introduced this week.

GCCA’s Lowell Randel explains how industry and government can fix driver shortages, port congestion and cyber threats.

Bipartisan bill in Congress makes reforms to U.S. shipping regulations for the first time since 1998.

A U.S. manufacturer defends its complaint filed against container ship giant MSC with the Federal Maritime Commission despite the carrier’s denial of contract violations.

Lawmakers use Trump-era reforms in the infrastructure bill to attract Republican support.

An American company has accused foreign ocean carriers of abusing the container market to pad their profits.

Lawmakers controlling the purse strings in Congress urge FMCSA and NHTSA to take action on their safety directives in 2022.

A Mack Trucks facility was the backdrop Wednesday for President Biden to highlight his plan to require that 75% of the value of a product’s components be made in the U.S.

Trucking companies outbidding each other for drivers using salary and per-mile wage increases are leaving themselves vulnerable when the next economic downturn hits, the American Trucking Association’s chief economist warns. […]

USDA is making $200 million available for timber haulers hit by the pandemic in 2020.

The chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission defends the lack of fines levied in 2020 while requesting a funding boost for 2022.

The Federal Maritime Commission is auditing container lines to evaluate potential abuse of leverage against exporters.

The Postal Service OIG seeks an additional $17 million to respond to future service challenges.

The Federal Maritime Commission has partnered with the DOJ to pursue competition violations.

Biden’s executive order calls on the Justice Department to help regulators monitor pricing practices and anticompetition in the container shipping and rail sectors.

NHTSA’s new standing order on autonomous truck crash data is too blunt an instrument, according to a group representing the self-driving vehicle sector.

Section 202 in postal reform legislation would keep parcel and mail delivery networks integrated. Some interests say it will never require the Postal Service to straighten out its accounting.

The number of drivers prohibited from driving due to drugs matches an estimated shortfall of drivers needed to keep up with freight demand.

The U.S. Department of Transportation targeted highway expansion to improve freight flow in awarding the latest round of INFRA grants.

Amazon warns that third-party sellers and customers would be harmed if the company were forced to divest its logistics operations.

The Federal Maritime Commission tells Congress exporters allege they are being threatened by ocean carriers if they complain about excessive fees and unfair practices.

U.S. food trade group tells maritime regulators that carrier profits do not justify added fees.

The Federal Maritime Commission is open to considering a mandate on container carriers to book U.S. exports.

A new supply chain task force emerges from the Biden administration’s 100-day review.

President Joe Biden’s regulatory policy shift has wide-ranging implications for shippers and carriers.

Shippers call on lawmakers to expand government oversight of contracts between ocean carriers and their customers.

The Biden administration has issued a Jones Act waiver amid fuel shortages and rising gas prices sparked by a pipeline outage.

Truck platooning could see delays and higher costs with rollout of FCC’s 5.9 GHz now confirmed.

Congress is considering several options to keep the Highway Trust Fund afloat.

U.S. maritime regulators are giving ocean carriers and shippers more flexibility to meet contract filing requirements.

“Widely varying” tariff fees charged by container lines have prompted federal regulators to consider new rules.

Biden taps Daniel Maffei to head the FMC amid the ongoing port congestion crisis.

A DOT autonomous trucking technology study downplays concerns raised by the FMCSA.

DeJoy testifies that the Postal Service must focus on increasing its 35% share of the package market currently dominated by private carriers.

Carriers should begin planning now to influence policy change that could result from Biden’s supply chain executive order, industry observers say.

An investigation of the former DOT secretary highlights the need to restore trust in the federal infrastructure grant process.

Maritime regulators warn the Houston port agency against restrictions that could hamper the Gulf Coast container trade.

California will boost testing procedures to enforce distillate fuel regulations.

Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel discusses the agency’s options in regulating rates and service amid the booming U.S. container supply chain.

Postal Service chief defends his strategy to shift mail from planes to trucks despite the resulting longer delivery times.

A change in political direction – and ongoing concerns – greet 10 Biden picks who will deal with freight issues.

The Federal Maritime Commission is stepping up oversight of charges imposed on trucking companies and U.S. exporters by containership companies.

The Biden administration review of critical supply chains is aimed at reducing reliance on China for equipment.

FMC commissioners appeal to President Joe Biden to immediately vaccinate the maritime workforce.

The American Trucking Associations and state trucking groups call on the Biden administration to reclassify vaccine status for truck drivers.

Joe Biden plans to sign a “Made in America” executive order that reiterates support for the Jones Act.

Biden’s executive orders address the COVID-19 supply chain and mask mandates among transportation modes.

Airlines are bleeding red ink and are asking incoming DOT nominee Pete Buttigieg to focus on testing and other steps to give people confidence to travel.

DOT Secretary Elaine Chao emailed a farewell letter to employees on Friday detailing her resignation and COVID-19 challenges.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is first cabinet head to quit after storming of U.S. Capitol.

FRA announces the full implementation of PTC as well as interoperability among competing railroads.

The World Shipping Council responds to assertions from FMC commissioners of potential Shipping Act violations.

Transit projects are expected to take on more importance than new construction in Joe Biden’s administration.

Freight forwarders are vying against all-cargo airlines and online merchants over whether export cargo should be screened or get a green light to the aircraft if it comes from a secure facility audited by the government.

Nobody likes a line cutter, but when it comes to the rush delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, the Federal Aviation Administration is making an exception.