Regulatory Agencies

California’s forklifts were going zero-emission even before latest mandate

California is rolling out new rules to move toward a zero-emission fleet of forklifts, against the backdrop of an industry that is already moving in that direction.

The California Air Resources Board last month passed a final rule designed to phase out the use of large spark-ignited (LSI) forklifts. An LSI engine is one in which a spark is utilized to ignite a fuel, which in a large portion of the forklift world means propane. Propane has long been the preferred fuel for indoor forklifts given...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/californias-forklifts-were-going-zero-emission-even-before-latest-mandate

FMC rejects claims it is using new container rule to regulate prices

WASHINGTON — The Federal Maritime Commission has rejected arguments that it is trying to regulate rates in issuing a new rule largely prohibiting ocean carriers from refusing to provide vessel space for their customers’ containers.

The final rule, which also addresses instances in which carriers unreasonably refuse to deal or negotiate contract provisions with their customers regarding container vessel space, was required under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. It goes into effect Sept. 23.

“...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmc-rejects-claims-it-is-using-new-container-rule-to-regulate-prices

Trump’s VP pick supports truck parking, opposes speed limiters

Former President Donald Trump, a vocal supporter of the trucking industry while he was in Washington – particularly owner-operators – has picked a running mate who is on the record for supporting two of truck drivers’ top legislative priorities.

Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance, who was named by Trump as his pick for vice president on Monday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, is a co-sponsor of the Truck Parking Improvement Act, which dedicates $755 million in grant money over...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trumps-vp-pick-supports-truck-parking-opposes-speed-limiters

Regulators nervous about rail freight decline

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators are summoning executives from the major freight railroads to a rare public hearing to explain how their companies plan to invest in and grow their business amid concern over recent negative volume trends.

In a notice published Friday, the Surface Transportation Board, which regulates railroad rates and service, said it also welcomes railroad customers, suppliers and rail labor to testify during the two-day hearing on Sept. 16 and 17 at STB headquarters in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/regulators-nervous-about-rail-freight-decline

Truckers, shippers warn against delaying container fee rule

WASHINGTON — Drayage truckers and shippers are pushing hard against a request by container ship operators to delay a recent rule regulating how containers can be billed, warning the Federal Maritime Commission that such a move would lead to supply chain havoc.

The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA), which represents 10 of the largest international ocean carriers, argued in its petition to the FMC that because the agency made a correction to its final rule on demurrage and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truckers-shippers-warn-against-delaying-container-fee-rule

Supreme Court ruling could boost freight carriers’ legal powers

WASHINGTON — Freight carriers that want to challenge regulations that govern them may have received a significant boost from the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday in a decision that overturns a 40-year precedent of deference given to federal agencies.

The high court decided 6-3 to overrule the Chevron doctrine, a policy challenged in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondothatrequires lower courts to defer to regulatory agencies in legal challenges of regulations that agencies have interpreted from...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/supreme-court-ruling-could-boost-freight-carriers-legal-powers

Railroads fear losing out to trucks if California gets its way

WASHINGTON — Major freight railroads and their short-line counterparts raised red flags on Capitol Hill about supply chain consequences of a California regulation aimed at cutting air pollution from locomotives.

If the California Air Resources Board is successful in securing approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California’s In-Use Locomotive Regulation, adopted by the state last year, would require all locomotives manufactured after 2035 that travel though the state of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/railroads-fear-losing-out-to-trucks-if-california-gets-its-way

FMCSA grants 14 epilepsy waivers, 11 hearing exemptions to truck drivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released the latest list of waivers that allow truck drivers who have had epilepsy or hearing impairment in the past to continue driving.

The agency releases such exemptions periodically. Most notably with the latest round is that according to the FMCSA notice on the exemptions in the Federal Register, no comments were submitted in opposition to the waivers.

In the case of the epilepsy waiver, 14 drivers will be granted an exemption from the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-grants-14-epilepsy-waivers-11-hearing-exemptions-to-truck-drivers

FMC building case for new container data-sharing rules

WASHINGTON — The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking another round of comments from container line operators and their customers as part of its quest to build the case for potential new mandates on container shipment data sharing.

The FMC wants to supplement an information request issued last year along with a May 2023 report on the agency’s Maritime Transportation Data Initiative (MTDI). That project, led by Commissioner Carl Bentzel, attempts to measure the extent to which shipment data is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmc-building-case-for-new-container-data-sharing-rules

DOT launches mapping project to guide government spending on freight

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation is launching the first step in a long-awaited National Multimodal Freight Network (NMFN), a project that will be used to prioritize federal money for freight infrastructure around the country.

A request for information scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Friday will give the public 60 days to submit comments and data on the best way to identify freight facilities and corridors that will be used to create an NMFN map.

DOT’s...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dot-launches-mapping-project-to-guide-government-spending-on-freight

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