Regulatory Agencies

The Freight Fraud Crisis The trucking industry is grappling with a surge in freight fraud, leaving carriers, brokers, and shippers vulnerable to sophisticated scams like identity theft and unauthorized double brokering. These schemes disrupt supply chains, undermine trust, and cause significant financial and logistical challenges. The root cause is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s […]

The English Language Proficiency (ELP) rule, now in effect, could significantly reduce trucking capacity. For a decade, large truckload carriers have embraced regulations like the ELD mandate and Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to limit market capacity, but effects were typically short-lived. The ELP mandate, enforced by a DOT Executive Order, requires commercial drivers to demonstrate […]

The Trump administration’s proposed new regulatory enforcement policy could make railroads less accountable, unions assert.

The House approved legislation requiring that all federal commercial cargo be carried on U.S.-owned ships.

A union representing vessel crews is warning regulators of the economic and safety dangers of flag states operating under the radar.

Federal regulators are opening an informal investigation to determine whether less costly foreign-flag ship registries are undercutting U.S. foreign trade.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to revoke two trucking-related Environmental Protection Agency waivers granted to California.

Union Pacific has brought a rare trackage rights dispute with BNSF to the Surface Transportation Board.

Brent Sadler, President Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Maritime Administration, is a staunch advocate for rebuilding America’s maritime competitiveness.

With the prospect of massive fees against Chinese ocean carriers at U.S. ports, shipping’s top regulator is trying to quell fears of turmoil in American export markets.

The trucking industry is warning that overhauling how Customs and Border Protection processes low-value shipments from Canada and Mexico will come with its own price tag.

Green Eagle Railroad’s proposed 1.3-mile line would be part of a secure corridor linking Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico.

An autonomous vehicle technology executive has been nominated to fill a top leadership role at the Department of Transportation.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to use AI and other technologies to improve cargo screening that targets fentanyl at border crossings.

A group of Senate Democrats told Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to stop mass layoffs and asked for details on Elon Musk’s involvement.

An EPA action initiating the process of revoking three California emissions waivers faces legal hurdles.

President-elect Trump’s pick for transportation secretary gave Senate lawmakers a list of assurances and commitments he plans to carry out if he is confirmed.

A New Mexico carrier came up short in its lawsuit against the Biden administration’s independent contractor rule.

Deregulatory priorities within the Trump administration could throw a wrench in federal agencies’ rulemaking pipeline.

A key case regarding California’s ability to receive environmental waivers, Ohio vs. EPA, won’t be taken up by the Supreme Court.

A controversial drug-testing regulation affecting truck drivers and motor carriers is now scheduled for release under the Trump administration.

An inspector general’s report warns that DOT’s operating administrations are at risk for cyberattacks that could have a “major impact” on their missions.

President-elect Donald Trump is nominating Fox News Host Sean Duffy to head the U.S. Department of Transportation. Duffy, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin for nine years, is the co-host of Fox Business’ “The Bottom Line” and provides political analysis across all Fox News Media platforms, according to Fox Business. During […]

OSHA has warned CSX against retaliating against employees who raise safety concerns.

Amendments proposed by the Biden administration aim to simplify hazardous materials compliance for trucking, rail and vessel companies.

Recent Department of Labor action against logistics company Cargomatic is part of a broader crackdown against what the Biden administration calls “coercive provisions” in employment contracts.

A second front will be opened in the legal battle over whether Amazon is a joint employer of drivers along with its delivery service partners.

Internal email reveals $105 million in maintenance cutbacks at BNSF that could lead to service disruptions.

Regulators may consider more oversight as a way to improve rail volumes.

A regional decision by the National Labor Relations Board undermines Amazon’s delivery service partner model and will force greater recognition of unionized workers by the retail giant across the country, according to the Teamsters union.

The Supply Chain Council has extended its executive team and plans to be a national rather than “California-first” organization.

Before the U.S. Marine Corps veteran, lawyer and author of Hillbilly Elegy was a contender for VP, Vance took the national spotlight as one of three Senate Republicans and three Senate Democrats to introduce The Railway Safety Act of 2023.

California’s latest environmental logistics rule focuses on forklifts, but clean technology there has been growing already.

Federal regulators have finalized a rule making it harder for ocean carriers to refuse to provide vessel space for customers.

J.D. Vance will give truckers another high-profile supporter in Washington if Trump wins in November.

The Biden administration is calling railroad executives to Washington to explain how they plan to reverse negative cargo trends and grow their business.

Container carriers’ request to extend the compliance deadline for new federal billing requirements is being vigorously opposed by their customers.

Regulatory policy has been upended by a Supreme Court decision released Friday, according to experts.

Costs and feasibility of CARB’s anti-pollution rule for locomotives was debated on Capitol Hill.

FMCSA has granted waivers to a new round of truck drivers who have epilepsy or hearing impairment.

The Federal Maritime Commission suggests that requiring better data could lead to less congestion and fewer container storage fees.

The government’s long-awaited National Multimodal Freight Network has finally kicked off with a two-month request for information to help map out facilities and routes.

Federal regulators are bracing for a surge in container late fee complaints as ocean carriers and shippers process alternate routing options following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The Federal Railroad Administration has lowered the gates on railroads looking to move to one-person crews.

Legislation approved by the House gives the Federal Maritime Commission more power to investigate potential container market manipulation by China.

The Biden administration is getting a clearer picture of freight flow changes with new data from inland intermodal hubs.

An NLRB rule on joint employee status that was widely feared by employers has been vacated by a federal court in Texas just before it was to take effect.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has withdrawn a rule that would have required reporting of scope 3 emissions, those related to companies’ supply chains.

A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Pennsylvania on Saturday amid an already heated battle over railroad safety issues. Here’s the latest.

Shippers say a new Federal Maritime Commission rule meant to make billing more transparent will instead cause them more headaches.

Highway, port and freight rail projects are caught up in a Government Accountability Office report questioning how the Department of Transportation justifies infrastructure investments.

EPA’s proposal to consider mandating air pollution reporting could place new burdens on rail yards and rail carriers, critics say.

Road builders say the Biden administration’s new emissions performance rule goes beyond the intent of Congress.

Postal Service auditors have advised the agency to boost oversight of contract trucking companies.

Here’s how 10 federal agencies plan to protect carriers and their customers if Congress fails to approve funding by Saturday night.

Automated equipment put to work for the U.S. Postal Service failed to achieve projected savings, according to the agency’s watchdog.

Requiring container ship operators to file an export policy would be too costly — and unlawful as well, carriers tell regulators.

The Department of Transportation’s “supercharged” Freight Office will be tasked with overseeing and coordinating competitive grants and how they fit into a national freight strategy.

There may be plenty of hand-wringing about California’s Clean Fleets rule, but fleets are advised to start getting ready for it.

Shippers want Congress to expand FMC’s power over rail storage fees, but shipping lines say the power is already in the hands of the STB.

The Biden administration has opened the first round of a $400 million, five-year grant program to clear truck pollution at seaports.

Legislation giving FMC more power over alliances is aimed at preventing anticompetitive container carrier agreements.

Transportation secretary takes on lawmakers’ concerns on truck and rail issues while defending his department’s $145 billion fiscal year 2024 budget request.

Fees to register a business or file complaints at the Federal Maritime Commission will be significantly higher in 2023 to account for higher agency costs.

Federal regulators have codified provisions of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act that may extract more compensation from ocean carriers for rule violations.

Rail unions warn that revisions to a rule affecting railroad contract workers could be a step backward for safety.

The TIA, the leading industry association representing brokers, is ramping up its fight against fraudulent double brokering.

Foreign-flagged vessels working in the U.S. offshore energy sector would face new restrictions under a proposal before Congress.

AskWaves looks at GAO’s warning that the U.S. needs to step up capabilities and oversight in the Arctic region as emerging shipping routes gain steam.

Shippers and carriers are increasing the pressure on ports and other supply chain participants to roll out “green corridors” using digital technology.

Ocean carrier contracts and carriers’ ability to make a profit are put to the test in a proposed rule, according to reaction from shippers and carriers.

Ocean carriers will be subject to stricter requirements when they charge shippers fees on late containers if a proposed rule is adopted.

Federal regulators are proposing a “burden-shifting regime” aimed at helping importers and exporters secure container space on ships.

Government watchdogs have found that maritime regulators are unable to effectively track how shipments of military supplies and food aid are transported overseas.

Trucking companies want the FMC to require better container storage data from the ocean carriers to speed cargo flow at the Port of New York and New Jersey.

Federal regulators are considering a congestion emergency order to require carriers to share cargo data with shippers, railroads and trucks.

Fertilizer shippers push for transportation reforms to help products compete amid ongoing supply chain disruption.

DOT officials are calling the start of data sharing among supply chain companies a ‘milestone’ event.

Federal regulators are pressuring carriers at the Port of New York and New Jersey to compensate shippers and carriers for container storage.

A top regulator says more staff is needed to properly carry out new ocean carrier reforms signed into law by President Joe Biden.

The Biden administration is launching an advisory panel to identify ways to integrate automation across transportation modes.

New guidance from the Federal Maritime Commission on disputing ocean carrier charges is considered a “landmark moment” by U.S. exporters.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants President Biden to intervene in the ongoing rail labor dispute to avoid service disruptions.

Container market experts advise carriers and shippers to act quickly now that new rules regulating ocean shipping are in effect.

A new standard on truck trailer rear underride guards is already being met by 94% of trailer manufacturers, and safety advocates say it is too weak.

Container lines stand to gain from unprecedented berthing priority under a proposal introduced by California lawmakers aimed at helping U.S. exports.

The rising cost of construction materials — and lack of bidders — is weakening the power of the bipartisan infrastructure law.

President Biden plans to sign into law the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, the first ocean shipping regulations passed by Congress since 1998.

The nation’s top container-trade regulator says he wants ensure more fairness in ocean carrier contracts after a spike in shipper complaints.

In the wake of the latest deadly shootings, Democratic lawmakers urge carriers to tighten firearm security measures.

Fatalities in crashes involving at least one large truck jumped 13% in 2021, hitting a “crisis” level, according to federal regulators.

U.S. regulators have ordered the world’s largest ocean carriers to submit more pricing and capacity data to help protect shipping markets from anticompetitive practices.

Mineta led the agency during the 9/11 attacks and oversaw the TSA’s launch.

Pete Buttigieg pushed back during a DOT budget hearing in the Senate against an effort to blame the Biden administration for rising inflation.

The Postal Service rejected lawmakers’ calls to produce a new analysis of its future electric delivery vehicle fleet.

A federal regulator is using a new report to spotlight the importance of ocean containers to the U.S. economy and the threat of China’s market dominance.

Biden’s 2023 budget request increases funding to deal with freight bottlenecks and issue new regulations.

FMCSA’s safety boss grapples with a huge wave of truck entrants since the pandemic.

Federal regulators will begin to assess how container lines are serving U.S. exporters.

This AskWaves considers whether the federal government is needed to launch a supply chain portal – and whether it can succeed.