#transportation-policy
(36 articles)33,000 Truckers Out of Service in Massive DOT Enforcement Wave
The U.S. Department of Transportation has dramatically escalated enforcement actions under Operation Highway Shield, with 33,000 commercial drivers placed out of service nationwide for failing English
U.S. Port Congestion Worsens as Holiday Season Approaches
Major U.S. ports are experiencing significant congestion ahead of the holiday shipping season, with 144 ships queuing at San Pedro Bay alone, 85 of which await unloading permission. Ports spanning fro
US Trucking Crackdown Could Disrupt Mexico Border Freight
The US is intensifying enforcement of trucking regulations at the Mexico border, creating tension between compliance goals and operational efficiency. While enforcement targets illegal cabotage violat
US National Freight Strategy Elevates Freight as Supply Chain Priority
The U.S. National Freight Strategic Plan represents a significant policy shift that elevates freight transportation and logistics infrastructure to a central role in national supply chain strategy. Th
UP-NS Rail Merger: CEO Confident Despite Regulatory Hurdles Ahead
Union Pacific's Chief Executive Jim Vena expressed extreme confidence in winning regulatory approval for the proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern, claiming the combination would accele
Major PVC Producer Backs UP-NS Merger, Short Lines Warn of Harm
Shintech, the largest U.S. polyvinyl chloride producer and a wholly Union Pacific customer, submitted official support to federal regulators for the proposed UP-NS merger, citing benefits of single-li
Court Skeptical of DOT's Restrictive Non-Domiciled CDL Rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia heard oral arguments in Lujan vs. FMCSA, a legal challenge to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new rules restricting Commercial
STB Rejects Early Merger Denial, UP-NS Proceeding Advances
The Surface Transportation Board has rejected three summary denial motions filed by BNSF, CSX, and a coalition of shipper associations seeking to block the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger on pro
FMCSA Grants 3-Month Nationwide HOS Waiver for Fuel Transport
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a nationwide waiver of Hours of Service (HOS) regulations through December 16, permitting truck drivers transporting motor fuel to operate up
WA Govt Seeks Freight Rail Buyback via New Legislation
Western Australia has introduced legislation to facilitate a government buyback of freight rail assets, marking a strategic pivot toward increased public control of regional transportation infrastruct
India's Freight Revamp Could Unlock INR 7 Lakh Crore in Savings
India has identified a substantial opportunity to restructure its freight and logistics network, with preliminary analysis suggesting the nation could realize INR 7 lakh crore (approximately USD 84 bi
Indian Truckers Push for Transparent DGT Slot Allocation System
Indian trucking operators are escalating demands for transparent and equitable allocation of Dangerous Goods Transport (DGT) slots, signaling growing frustration with opaque slot-distribution mechanis
DOT Power Lines Plan Threatens Freight Rail Capacity
The US Department of Transportation has unveiled a plan to deploy high-voltage electrical transmission lines alongside the nation's 140,000 route miles of freight rail corridors. While the initiative
Trump DOT Launches Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative to Speed Freight
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced a new American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative designed to optimize freight movement and reduce transportation costs for American businesses an
Dedicated Freight Corridors Could Save India ₹7 Lakh Crore
IIM Mumbai has published research demonstrating that dedicated freight corridors (DFCs) represent a transformative infrastructure opportunity for India's supply chain ecosystem. The study quantifies t
Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger Faces Regulatory Headwinds
The proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, two of North America's largest Class I railroads, is encountering significant regulatory and industry resistance. This consolidation wou
Africa's Transport Sector: Future Outlook & Supply Chain Impact
Brookings presents a forward-looking examination of Africa's transport sector, addressing critical infrastructure gaps and modernization opportunities that will reshape regional supply chain dynamics.
102 Democrats Push STB to Prioritize Labor in UP-NS Rail Merger
Over 100 House Democrats, coordinated with the Teamsters Rail Conference, have formally petitioned the Surface Transportation Board to prioritize labor concerns in its review of the proposed $85 billi
STB Extends UP-NS Merger Comment Deadline to September 30
The Surface Transportation Board has extended the public comment deadline for the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger to September 30, dramatically expanding stakeholder participation to approximate
STB Extends UP-NS Merger Review Deadline to September 30
The Surface Transportation Board has extended the participation deadline for the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger from September 4 to September 30, 2024. This extension was granted follo
STB Sets UP-NS Merger Review Timeline Through Late 2027
The Surface Transportation Board has formally adopted a review schedule for the proposed $85 billion Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, lifting a hold placed in May and signaling the regulatory pr
State AGs Block UP-NS Merger Over Inadequate Competition Safeguards
Six state attorneys general have formally opposed the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, contending that the railroad's competitive commitments fall short of addressing market
7 State AGs Challenge UP-NS Merger Over Shipping Cost Concerns
Seven state attorneys general have formally raised concerns about a proposed merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), warning that the consolidation could harm shippers by driving
Republican AGs Join UP-NS Merger Opposition; STB Scrutiny Intensifies
The proposed **Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger**, already the most heavily scrutinized transportation combination in U.S. history, faces intensifying political headwinds as seven Republican
Federal Court Upholds Two-Person Crew Rule for Freight Trains
On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit delivered a decisive victory for railroad safety advocates by upholding the Federal Railroad Administration's two-person crew requirement, re
CN Backs UP-NS Merger for Expanded Network Access Rights
Canadian National Railway (CN) has announced support for the proposed merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), conditional upon gaining expanded network access rights. This strateg
FMCSA Broker Transparency Rule Could Transform Owner-Operator Negotiations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is preparing to release a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on broker transparency, potentially closing a 40-year enforcement gap on a regulati
GOAL and LMTA Push for Streamlined Permitting Standards
The Global Organization of Automobile Logistics (GOAL) and the Logistics Motor Transport Association (LMTA) are jointly advocating for improvements to the permitting framework that governs heavy lift
GoAL Executive Joins Louisiana Oversized Freight Permitting Committee
A GoAL (likely Gulf of America Logistics or similar) executive has been selected to serve on a Louisiana state committee tasked with reviewing and potentially reforming the permitting process for over
Indian Railways Launches Eight New Freight Reforms Under 'Reform Express'
Indian Railways has announced eight new freight reforms under its 'Reform Express' initiative, expanding its reform portfolio to 17 measures aimed at modernizing and improving the efficiency of rail f
SBTC's Bid to Strip NY, CA of CDL Authority Faces Legal Uphill Battle
The Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) has escalated its legal challenge against the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, seeking to force decertification of commercial driver's
OOIDA Pushes Congress to Codify CDL Safety Rules
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is pressing Congress to permanently codify recent federal restrictions on non-domiciled commercial driver licenses through H.R. 5688, citing
EPA Diesel Derate Rule Threatens Defense Supply Chain Security
The Environmental Protection Agency's 16-year-old mandate requiring diesel engines to derate (reduce speed) to 5 mph when emissions sensors detect faults has become a critical vulnerability in America
Italy Restricts Strike Rights in Essential Goods Logistics
Italy has implemented restrictions on the right to strike for workers in the logistics sector responsible for transporting essential goods via road. This regulatory action represents a significant int
UP, NS Advance Merger Case With First STB Response Filing
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have submitted the first portion of their responses to the Surface Transportation Board's May 28, 2026 supplemental information request concerning their proposed mer
Two Carriers Seek 5-Year HOS Relief; FMCSA Exemptions Spark Debate
Two private trucking companies, Lone Star Haz Mat and Mainline Services LLC, have simultaneously filed applications with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) seeking five-year exemp