This week, a nationwide winter storm touched down, stretching from southern California to New England. After a long and difficult winter for the transportation industry, many were looking forward to higher temperatures in the spring. However, before we get there, we'll need to endure one last cold snap. The storm has had major effects on the west coast, where most cities aren't used to dealing with snow. Portland, OR, shut…

A lot of American anxiety over the last few years has been focused on the shortage of truck drivers in this country. Well, this week Congress took a step towards alleviating that issue. Florida Representative Brian Mast (R) introduced the Ceasing Age-Based Trucking Restrictions Act (CAB) on Tuesday. This bill intends to remove age-based restrictions on truck drivers. It would open the door for more 18–20 year-old truckers in the…

In March of this year, the EPA announced new regulations that would force truck manufacturers to reduce their new vehicles' emissions. The EPA is still deciding between two proposed options, known as "Option 1" and "Option 2." This week, a group of 17 Republican Senators signed a letter to the EPA, trying to convince it to adopt the lighter version of the rule, Option 2. The proposed rule would affect…

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is the cornerstone achievement of the Biden-Harris Administration so far. This week, the administration announced further investment in U.S. roads and bridges. In Fiscal Year 2023, 12 infrastructure programs will receive a combined $59.9 billion for infrastructure projects. These projects will range from road and bridge repairs to clean energy grants. The BIL sends funds directly to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and…

Amidst extreme weather all over the country, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced more emergency relief funds. The second round of emergency funding this year eclipsed $513 million in total funds. 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico received federal funds this time around. States must use the relief funds for specific projects to repair damaged roadways and transportation infrastructure. Most of this damage was caused by natural…

The supply chain issues plaguing the trucking industry are well known by now. This week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a round of FMCSA funding that could help alleviate the problem. $3.1 million in federal funds will go to community colleges across the country. The funding is for programs that train veterans to drive trucks. The FMCSA will issue funds through the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) Grant…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized its new rear underride rule this week. The new rule will require that rear underride guards have enough strength to prevent the worst of this type of accident. Intended to reduce fatalities on the road, critics say the new rule doesn't go far enough. Rear underride crashes occur when a smaller vehicle like a four-door sedan crashes into the back of a semi-trailer.…

Last month, the FMCSA announced an extension of its pandemic-era restrictions exemption for motor carriers. The latest extension only affects the amount of time a driver can drive in one shift. Under the extension, drivers can skip breaks and drive for more than eight hours in one go. The original emergency declaration was announced in March 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The FMCSA recognized a need to…

The US transportation sector continues to show encouraging signs of recovery. Last month, transportation sector unemployment dropped to 3.6%. This rate represents a return to pre-pandemic levels. In April 2019, the unemployment rate in this sector was 3.7%. Transportation unemployment peaked when it reached a shocking 15.7% during May and June of 2020. Since then, the unemployment rate has seen a steady decrease. Last year at this time, the unemployment…

A controversial policy enacted by Texas Governor Greg Abbott has created massive gridlock at various Texas-Mexico border crossings. The policy calls for inspections of commercial trucks from Mexico to check for migrants. Experts have raised concerns that the policy will slow the import of produce to the point that American consumers will start to feel the effects soon. On Wednesday, Abbott announced that a deal had been made with the…