Insights - August 2015 - (Page 21)

Federal Register and opened for public comment through Sept. 11. The American Trucking Associations - in a June 19 statement that may be found at bit.ly/ATAreacts - offered support. At the same time, they expressed concern that the rule might result in use of certain technologies on vehicles before they can be fully tested. and truck turn times; extended gate hours, PierPASS and congestion pricing; and collaboration and communication. Go to www.fmc.gov/NR15-11/ for more, including links to the complete 88-page report and 51 pages of appendices. FRA to Retain PTC Deadline A second Senate bill is aiming to amend federal labor relations law to stave off disruptions at U.S. seaports. Introduced June 18 by Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, the Preventing Labor Union Slowdowns Act of 2015, or PLUS Act, S. 1630, would make it an unfair labor practice for maritime labor organizations to engage in slowdowns. S. 1630 has been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The Protecting Orderly and Responsible Transit of Shipments (PORTS) Act of 2015, S. 1519, introduced June 4 by Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., was also assigned to that committee as well as the Federal officials plan to hold to their Dec. 31 deadline for enforcement of a rule requiring Class I railroads to have positive train control, or PTC, implemented on main lines where poisonous or toxic hazardous materials are transported and on lines that host regular intercity or commuter passenger services. The intent to keep the year-end enforcement date, replete with levying of fines, was announced June 24 by acting Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Sarah Feinberg before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. Go to www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/ L16645 to read her statement, which she opened by saying, "PTC technology is arguably the single-most important railroad safety development in more than a century." Second Bill Aims at Port Slowdowns Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The measure would grant state governors intercessory authority currently reserved for the U.S. president. Track S. 1630 at www.govtrack.us/ congress/bills/114/s1630 and follow S. 1519 at www.govtrack.us/congress/ bills/114/s1519. Meanwhile, reports in late June indicated that the International Longshoremen's Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance were already discussing a long-term extension of their contract covering U.S. East and Gulf coast ports, which is not set to expire until September 2018. Measure Calls for Freight Research House leaders are mulling a measure that would establish a pilot program for evaluation of freight fluidity measures plus launch a national cooperative freight transportation research program. The Future Transportation Research FMC Issues Port Congestion Report Following several FMC-organized listening forums in 2014, the Federal Maritime Commission has issued a staff report titled, "U.S. Container Port Congestion & Related International Supply Chain Issues: Causes, Consequences & Challenges." "Infrastructure investment is at the core of the discussion; however, other factors must be addressed in the near term to ensure an efficient and reliable international ocean transportation system and the relevant supply chain," FMC Chairman Mario Cordero said in releasing the report July 14. The report is organized around six themes: investment and planning; chassis availability and related issues; vessel and terminal operations; port drayage August 2015 | Intermodal Insights 21 http://www.fmc.gov/NR15-11/ http://www.bit.ly/ATAreacts http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1630 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1630 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1519 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1519 http://www.galaxytransport.com http://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L16645 http://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L16645

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - August 2015

Fed Update
Measure Seeks FMCSA Reform
Nominations Sought for IANA Board
University of Wisonsin Hosts "Transportation Day for Girl Scouts"
IANA Committee Meetings at EXPO
CSX’s Gooden to Receive Silver Kingpin Award
State Legislative Update
L.A. Port Seeks Zero Emissions
Coastal Shift, Congestion Charges, Labor Slated for Intermodal EXPO Discussions
EXPO Education Session by Stakeholder Interests
Yearly Traffic Totals
Freight Report
Speakers Announced for Intermodal EXPO 2015
2015 Sponsors
Port News
People in the News
Second Bill Aims at Port Slowdowns
In Brief
New Members
Industry Calendar

Insights - August 2015