Here are five things worth knowing today:
1. Could add-on to Zika bill keep truckers on the road longer?
The Huffington Post reports that the trucking industry is trying to add on to the stopgap bill that Congress must pass this month to combat Zika and to fund the government until Dec. 9. According to the report, the industry is hoping to “permanently block a rest regulation for truck drivers,” potentially allowing them to work more than 80 hours a week. Huffington Post reports that Republicans are pushing the “unrelated trucking provision, and that Democrats are reluctant to go along.” The Huffington Post has more.
2. Hugh Ekberg appointed group president/CEO of CRST
CRST International has named Hugh Ekberg group president/chief operating officer. According to the company, Ekberg brings over 25 years of strategic business leadership to the CRST family of companies. Prior to joining CRST, Ekberg served as president – Kitchen & Bath Americas for Kohler Company. Prior to Kohler, he was division president and a board member at Weitz Company and before that, Ekberg was with Hirsh Industries and served in various roles, including executive vice president of operations, chief operating officer and president. “Hugh’s wide-ranging experience in multiple industry verticals fits nicely with the needs of our diversified operations,” said Dave Rusch, president and CEO of CRST International. “He has extensive expertise in corporate strategy, leadership, multi-site management and strategic growth. We’re thrilled to have an executive of his stature on the CRST team.”
3. Incoming ATA chairman participate in Congressional roundtable
This week, incoming American Trucking Assns.’ Chairman Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express Inc., will participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Highways and Transit Subcommittee on the impact of the freight provisions in last year’s highway bill. The roundtable will be hosted by Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the subcommittee on highways and transit, at 10 a.m. on Sept. 22 in Room 2167 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
4. Presidential candidates’ infrastructure plans
According to a Politico Morning Transportation report, presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have both “set lofty goals for transportation spending,” but failed to provide details of how their administrations would fund it. Politico reports that Clinton would rely on tax reform while Trump would turn to bonds. “Without some major compromise in Congress, neither plan is likely to go anywhere as is, [Politico’s] Kathryn A. Wolfe reports …,” Politico said.
5. AEM transportation ads target swing states
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is running ads in swing states that aim to “mimic the campaign rhetoric” of presidential candidates on transportation and infrastructure issues, according to The Hill. AEM has said that it is not endorsing any candidate in the presidential race, but it hopes the campaign will make voters think about transportation issues when they head to the polls. The Hill has more.
