surface transportation – Concrete Products

Whistleblowing-driver prevails in claims against fleet owner

March 2, 2020 Concrete News

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA is testing Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) whistleblower protection provisions by ordering a defunct Connecticut motor carrier and its co-owner to pay more than $150,000 in backpay, fines and attorney’s fees to settle a complaint surrounding management practices and trucking regulations compliance. Investigators found that the carrier retaliated against a driver who voiced concerns about faulty vehicle maintenance, including missing or inoperative headlights and air pressure leaks, and a directive to violate Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours of service regulations.

Concrete highway pavement volume approaches 60 million sq. yd.

January 28, 2019 Concrete News

Sources: American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA), Rosemont, Ill.; CP staff

ACPA sees 2019 concrete highway pavement volume rising to 56.2 million sq. yd., up 7 percent from 2018 and representing the largest such watermark since 2012. “Looking back at the past two years, 2017 was challenging for paving volume, but 2018 projected volumes indicate a strong rebound,” ACPA CEO Gerald Voigt observed at a World of Concrete 2019 briefing.

Infrastructure study findings spell gains for precast methods

August 16, 2018 Concrete News

Demand for precast concrete in infrastructure products is projected to increase 4.4 percent annually, to $2.4 billion by 2022, with growth fueled by the need to repair the nation’s aging network of bridges, highways, roads and railroad tracks; increased adoption of the method over traditional cast-in-place alternatives; and, efforts by the federal government to increase surface transportation investment.

White House guidance stands to hamper transportation project permits

September 12, 2016 Concrete News

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association has asked the Federal Highway Administration to withdraw a proposal to measure greenhouse gas emissions from new transportation projects. The agency action is part of larger performance measures required under the 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) surface transportation reauthorization law, and follows the White House’s early-August release of “Final Guidance on Considering Climate Change in Environmental Reviews” for federal agencies.

Road Builders map fuel tax, rebate plan to fund six-year, $400 billion highway bill

March 16, 2015 Concrete News

Sources: American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), Washington, D.C.; CP staff

As members and their customers approach the current federal surface transportation program’s May 31 sunset, ARTBA has outlined a plan it believes could end the political impasse over how to fund Washington, D.C.’s share of state highway, bridge and transit capital projects, while seeding a $401 billion, six-year highway and mass transit capital investment program.

Transportation funding initiatives prevail on election day

December 16, 2014 Concrete News

Voters across the nation expressed support for increased investment in surface transportation, approving 60 out of 90 related initiatives on November ballots. The approved measures will provide nearly $21 billion in additional funds for transportation projects, reports the American Road and Transportation Builders Association Transportation Investment Advocacy Center.

Transportation funding initiatives prevail on election day

November 10, 2014 Concrete News

Source: American Road and Transportation Builders Association, Washington, D.C.

Voters across the nation expressed support for increased investment in surface transportation, approving 60 of 90 related initiatives on November 4 ballots. The measures will provide nearly $21 billion in additional funds for transportation projects, the ARTBA Transportation Investment Advocacy Center finds.

Materials Group: Multi-year, not multi-month highway funding commitments

September 16, 2014 Concrete News

The Highway Materials Group, a coalition of concrete, cement, aggregate and asphalt interests, is calling on Congress to pass a multi-year transportation authorization bill following a temporary patch lawmakers approved before their August recess.
“We are grateful Congress averted a fiscal cliff by continuing transportation funding through May 2015, but it missed the opportunity to provide the certainty that states, localities and industries, like ours, require for road, highway and bridge projects,” says National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association CEO Mike Johnson. “Congress needs to return to work in September and develop a multiyear surface transportation authorization that includes a sustainable funding mechanism. America cannot afford to wait until more bridges collapse and roads crumble. Transportation historically has united the parties in pursuit of what was good and needed for America to compete and thrive. Congress must continue the tradition of bipartisanship that resulted in passage of H.R. 5021.”

Asphalt contractor’s tab for firing hours of service-wise staff nears $1M

August 20, 2014 Concrete News

Sources: Occupational Safety and Health Administration; CP staff

Finding Asphalt Specialists Inc. violated the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by terminating a foreman and two truck drivers who had expressed hours of service compliance concerns, OSHA has ordered the Pontiac, Mich., paving contractor to pay $954,000 in back wages plus compensatory and punitive damages.

Materials Group: Highway authorization warrants years, not months

August 11, 2014 Concrete News

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

On behalf of members representing concrete and asphalt interests, the Highway Materials Group calls on Congress to pass a longer term transportation authorization bill following a temporary highway and bridge funding patch approved as Capitol Hill approached an August recess.