Panama Canal Authority (PCA) officials conducted another successful trial transit this week in the expanded waterway. The transiting vessel, a U.S.-built crane ship named the Oceanus, was maneuvered through the Pacific-facing Cocoli Locks. READ MORE

This week the League sent a letter to the Wall Street Journal responding to comments made in an opinion article in that paper by Association of American Railroads (AAR) President Ed Hamberger.  The AAR chief executive said that some shippers “want to force railroads to open up their tracks and facilities to other railroad competitors in order to obtain lower shipping costs.”  He added that “Doing so would upend the logistical efficiencies that today benefit all customers using the U.S. rail system….”  Hamberger’s comments were seemingly directed at the League’s efforts to convince the Surface Transportation Board (STB) that new rules must be adopted on competitive switching.  The STB has this matter under consideration in their Ex Parte 711 proceeding. READ MORE

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) released June 13 a State of the Industry Report featuring Towson University research that shows spending by the seven largest U.S. railroads created nearly $274 billion in economic activity, generated nearly $33 billion in state and federal tax revenues and supported nearly 1.5 million jobs nationally in 2014. READ MORE

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began a pilot program this month allowing commercial trucks to prepay the single-crossing user fee online prior to arrival at a port of entry. READ MORE

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System disclosed that an agreement has been reached to pay for the reconstruction and operation of the 70-mile Desert Line railway in southeastern San Diego County that connects Mexican export factories to rail shipping in the United States. READ MORE

The U.S. Transportation Department’s Inspector General’s (IG) office announced June 15 it has initiated an audit of commercial motor vehicle loading and unloading delays. READ MORE

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) current air controller hiring process is underserving the nation, House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo said at a June 15 House hearing. READ MORE

This week the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a day long public meeting on July 15^th of the Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group.  This will be the first meeting of the team working to define and identify key performance metrics for the U.S. port industry. READ MORE

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) issued a proposal June 15 that outlines measures to expedite the agency’s handling of rate cases — another change stemming from STB reform legislation passed by Congress last year. READ MORE

This week the League provided comments on the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) latest attempt to make its arbitration procedures more accessible and workable. READ MORE