White House Clears EPA Rule to Allow Navistar Engine Sales

The White House approved a regulation that could allow Navistar Inc. to resume selling heavy-duty diesel engines that violate 2010 emissions standards while paying a penalty.

Following the approval by the Office of Management and Budget, the Environmental Protection Agency must publish the rule in the Federal Register before it can take effect. EPA did not return a call asking when rule would be published.

The text of the rule is not public, and OMB did not provide any information about the rule on its regulatory docket except to note that it approved the rule Wednesday after making unspecified changes to it.

The rule would replace an “interim” rule that allowed Navistar to sell noncompliant engines starting in January while paying a $1,919 fine. After some Navistar competitors sued, a federal court overturned that rule in June, saying EPA skipped the proper procedures in issuing it.

View the original article here

White House Announces 54.5 MPG Standards for Cars, Light-Duty Trucks by 2025

The White House announced new standards Tuesday, to increase fuel efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon for cars and light-duty trucks by 2025.

The new standards nearly double fuel efficiency compared to new cars on the road today and the White House estimates the increased fuel efficiency will reduce U.S. oil consumption by 12 billion barrels.

Fuel standards previously had been raised by the administration to 35.5 mpg by 2016 for cars and light-duty trucks.

The new standards were issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

View the original article here

White House Offers States Half-Billion Dollars for Transportation Projects

The Obama administration will offer almost half a billion dollars in unspent highway funds to states for transportation projects, the Associated Press reported.

The money was initially allocated to the Transportation Department for earmarks from 2003-2006. 

The Republican-controlled House has since banned earmarks and the White House has said that the money should go to improve the nation’s highways, transit system and ports rather than letting it sit idle, the AP reported.

View the original article here

Women In Trucking Association Discusses Harassment Issues During White House Visit

Women In Trucking (WIT) President/CEO Ellen Voie and Board Director, Jan Hamblin of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. recently visited the White House to discuss the issue of harassment in the trucking industry. They met with Lynn Rosenthal, White House Adviser on Violence Against Women and Judge Susan Carbon, Director of the Office on Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice.

The meeting was facilitated with the assistance of Marlise Streitmatter, Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Secretary LaHood and a member of the White House Council on Women and Girls. Anne Ferro, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also attended the meeting.

The discussion focused on concerns expressed by female professional drivers who have been the target of harassment in their jobs. “In order to attract women into driving careers, we need to make the environment safe and hospitable for all drivers,” said Voie, “and unfortunately the trucking industry is still a man’s domain and some behavior is unacceptable.”

Women In Trucking Association’s mission includes addressing obstacles that might keep women from succeeding in the industry, and harassment is one of the obstacles being addressed. A toll free crisis line was a point of discussion and will be pursued as a future goal.

“This meeting was only the beginning,” Voie said, “and we are truly honored to have the attention of the White House in addressing the issue of harassment in the trucking industry.” Hamblin shared copies of the Anti-Harassment Employment Guide prepared by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. and provided free to corporate Women In Trucking members.

Women In Trucking was established in 2007 to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 14 percent of its members are men who support the mission. For more information visit www.WomenInTrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.

© 2011, Truck Drivers News Blog. All rights reserved.

View the original article here