Today’s Pickup: Group files petition seeking redo of emissions rules

Good morning.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency challenging the agency’s 2009 endangerment finding that was used to create the Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas regulations for trucking. The petition was filed on behalf of California trucking firm Liberty Packing Co.

“The EPA endangerment finding represents abuse of the EPA regulatory process under the Obama Administration, rather than objective, science-based action,” said Robert Henneke, director for TPPF’s Center for the American Future. “Federal law requires this type of EPA regulation be reviewed by the Science Advisory Board to ensure validity of the underlying research and data. The Foundation’s petition to rescind the endangerment finding seeks to respect the rule of law by undoing this past unlawful act by the EPA.”

The foundation requests the reconsideration of the endangerment finding in compliance with the mandated review.

In the filing, the foundation claims that EPA bypassed a Congressionally mandated scientific review of the plan

Click to read the petition

Did you know?

This year’s Roadcheck inspection blitz, to be held June 6-8, will focus on cargo securement. The top three cargo securement violations are:

1. Failure to prevent shifting/loss of load

2. Failure to secure truck equipment (tarps, dunnage, doors, tailgates, spare tires, etc.)

3. Damaged tie-downs (unacceptable wear on chain or cuts and tears on web straps)

Quotable:

“This is a common-sense measure that will help our brave men and women find work here in the Inland Empire. While we hear every day that Washington is broken and compromised by partisan gridlock, we can clearly see that there are issues that both parties can get behind. This is about helping our heroes find job opportunities in our communities.”

– U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), commenting on the Active Duty Voluntary Acquisition of Necessary Credentials for Employment Act (H.R. 2258), which will remove barriers to veterans seeking careers in trucking.

In other news:

Spot market rates climb again

National spot market rates for vans, reefers and flatbeds all climbed last week, according to the latest data from DAT. The number of loads posted increased 2.3%, the firm said. (Heavy Duty Trucking)

The future of transportation has arrived

From electric trucks to flying cars, the future of transportation is rapidly approaching, if it hasn’t already arrived. (Malaysian Digest)