Transportation

Washington — Nearly two years after the Federal Railroad Administration first published a final rule requiring commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety programs, the process has hit another hurdle.

Washington — The publication of a proposed rule intended to add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers is expected soon, on the heels of a recent delay, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration head Raymond Martinez said during a June 19 hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Washington — Fully operational Positive Train Control technology “would have intervened” to stop a fatal Amtrak passenger train derailment in which crew members were inadequately trained and tested on various aspects of a new route, the National Transportation Safety Board has concluded after its investigation into the December 2017 incident in DuPont, WA.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has delayed until further notice the publication of a proposed rule intended to add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has withdrawn a 2016 notice of proposed rulemaking that would have established a minimum crew size of two members on most railroad operations.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are requesting public comment on two advance notices of proposed rulemaking regarding the integration of vehicles equipped with automated driving systems.

Washington — OSHA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will host a public meeting on June 20 to gather information in preparation for a pair of United Nations meetings, the agencies announced in the May 22 Federal Register.

Ruckersville, VA — Speed limit increases resulted in 36,730 driver fatalities from 1993 to 2017, a recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on May 17 submitted for review to the White House Office of Management and Budget an advance notice of proposed rulemaking intended to help the agency assess whether to clarify the definitions of “agricultural commodity” or “livestock” in FMCSA’s hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking public comment on a potential pilot program that would allow drivers ages 18 to 20 to operate interstate commercial motor vehicles, according to a notice published in the May 15 Federal Register.