U.S. Department of Transportation

DOT seeks panel members to advise on transportation reforms

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation is creating a 10-member advisory board to make policy and investment recommendations aimed at modernizing the country’s transportation infrastructure.

“With the American Society of Civil Engineers estimating that over $4 trillion is needed to improve U.S. infrastructure from a D rating to a B, the board’s expertise will be instrumental in shaping policies and initiatives that drive safety, efficiency, resiliency, and long-term progress,” DOT...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dot-seeks-panel-members-to-advise-on-transportation-reforms

DOT looks to AI as it prepares to cut workforce

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy assured lawmakers that safety will not be sacrificed in the wake of a major workforce reduction plan that he is getting ready to roll out.

“We are working through some ideas right now on how we can streamline the department, and when we’ve completed those ideas we will no doubt share them with you for your consideration,” Duffy told a House Appropriations subcommittee on Wednesday.

Duffy testifying on Wednesday. Credit: House Appropriations...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dot-looks-to-ai-as-it-prepares-to-cut-workforce

Trucking groups clash over logging driver work hours

WASHINGTON — Large truck carriers and small-business owner-operators are seizing an opportunity opened by the Trump administration to argue their case for keeping or repealing the electronic logging device mandate that has been in force since 2017.

In comments filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation and posted by DOT on Tuesday, the American Trucking Associations highlighted ELDs as an important means of improving compliance with the underlying driver hours-of-service regulations.

“Since...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-groups-clash-over-logging-driver-work-hours

Carriers with mainly medium-size trucks want out from under FMCSA oversight

WASHINGTON — Small businesses are unfairly burdened by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration due to the agency’s oversight of medium-size trucks, a group representing such carriers has told the agency.

In comments filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a nonprofit group that advocates for policies supporting small companies, asserted that FMCSA specializes in regulating long-distance trucking, a sector in which...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/carriers-with-mainly-medium-size-trucks-want-out-from-under-fmcsa-oversight

Freight industry: Which regulations should DOT cut?

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation is giving freight carriers, trade groups, small businesses and others a direct line to the Trump administration to explain what regulations should be revised or taken off the books.

“Consistent with DOT’s commitment to public participation in the rulemaking process, DOT is beginning this process by soliciting views from the public on how best to conduct its analysis of existing DOT regulations, guidance, or reporting requirements,” the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-industry-which-regulations-should-dot-cut

Trump taps former AV tech company board member for new role at DOT

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has nominated Seval Oz of California as an assistant secretary of transportation in a role created by the administration, according to a posting by the Senate on Monday.

Her nomination has yet to be formally announced by the White House, but Oz’s professional background suggests she could be responsible for overseeing self-driving vehicle policy at the department.

Oz recently served on the board of directors of MicroVision Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS), an advanced...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trump-taps-former-av-tech-company-board-member-for-new-role-at-dot

Former Federal Highway Administration chief counsel now heads FMCSA

WASHINGTON — Adrienne Camire has been appointed to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as both deputy and acting administrator, FMCSA announced on Friday.

Adrienne Camire. Credit: FMCSA

Camire, who was chief counsel at the Federal Highway Administration during the first Trump administration, had been named senior adviser at FMCSA by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in January.

“Thank you to President Trump and Secretary Duffy for their confidence in me to serve in this...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/former-federal-highway-administration-chief-counsel-now-heads-fmcsa

Los legisladores exigen detalles sobre los recortes de la fuerza laboral de Dot

WASHINGTON – Los demócratas del Senado quieren que el Secretario de Transporte Sean Duffy detenga los despidos masivos y los despidos en el Departamento de Transporte y están cuestionando el papel de Elon Musk en la estrategia de reducción del departamento. Duffy en su audiencia de nominación el 15...

https://fullavantenews.com/los-legisladores-exigen-detalles-sobre-los-recortes-de-la-fuerza-laboral-de-dot/?lang=es

Lawmakers demand details on DOT’s workforce cuts

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats want Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to stop mass layoffs and firings at the Department of Transportation and are questioning Elon Musk’s role in the department’s downsizing strategy.

Duffy at his nomination hearing on Jan. 15. Credit: U.S. Senate

DOT’s roughly 57,000 employees have been among those affected by the sweeping federal workforce reduction mandate initiated during the first weeks of the Trump administration.

“At the Department of Transportation,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/lawmakers-demand-details-on-dots-workforce-cuts

DOT nominee Duffy vows to prioritize rebuilding I-40

WASHINGTON — A top action item on transportation secretary nominee Sean Duffy’s to-do list – if confirmed – is to visit storm-ravaged I-40 in Tennessee and North Carolina and prioritize rebuilding it.

“We need to know that this is going to be front and center with you so that we can get that interstate rebuilt and reopened,” U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Duffy at his confirmation hearing Wednesday.

“If I’m confirmed, the first trip I would like to make is … to see the devastation and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dot-nominee-duffy-vows-to-prioritize-rebuilding-i-40

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