For the third year in a row, the U.S. Senate is considering legislation to make double-decker transport of horses illegal. The Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2013 bans transportation of horses in trailers with two or more levels, according to bill co-sponsor Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ). Co-sponsor Senator Kirk of Illinois (R) states that it […]
Vermont
Congress Considers Raising Highway Weight Limit on Trucks
Weighing the benefits of larger-load efficiencies against concerns about increased damage to highways, Congress is considering increasing the weight limit of highway-safe trucks by some 17,000 pounds. The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act would increase the maximum weight for commercial trucks from 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds, a move that has drawn both praise and scorn. […]
Bridge over Lake Champlain from Vermont to New York is Open
The Lake Champlain bridge from New York to Vermont is running over budget, as reported by the Burlington Free Press. The bridge is nearly 10% over budget. It was originally bid as a $69.6 million project, but not will likely run as high as $76 million. The new bridge replaces a structurally-unsound 82 year old […]
NTSB: Ban All Cell Phone Use While Driving
Truck drivers who’ve felt singled out by talk of cell phone bans can take heart: It’s not just about trucks anymore. Thanks to a strong correlation between fatality crashes and cell phone usage while driving, on Tuesday the five-person National Transportation Safety Board unanimously recommended a universal ban on talking, texting, and emailing while driving […]
Senate Funding Bill OKs Heavy Trucks on Maine, Vermont Interstates
It’s getting heavier for Maine trucking attorneys and their Vermont trucking attorney peers. On Tuesday, the Senate brought both states closer to permanently allowing 100,000-pound trucks to travel on their interstate highways. A funding bill approved Tuesday by the full Senate included an amendment permitting the heavy trucks on interstates, sponsored by Senators Susan Collins […]
