News and Media

Trucking Industry Continues Push to Test Drivers’ Hair for Drugs As reported by Hassan A. Kanu in Bloomberg BNA Dec. 1 — The federal agency responsible for reducing substance abuse will likely miss a Dec. 4 deadline to set national guidelines allowing trucking companies to test their drivers’ hair follicles for drugs. The freight transportation […]

WASHINGTON, DC — Transportation union leaders across all sectors gathered today for their post-election meeting to assess the landscape in Washington and lay the groundwork for a unified effort under a Trump Administration. “Our discussion today was focused on boosting investment in transportation and protecting the rights of working people against a torrent of political […]

U.S. approves new airline over objections from N.J. Republican and his union allies As reported by Jonathan D. Salant for NJ.com WASHINGTON — The Obama administration‘s approval of a new international airline over objections from organized labor and Republican ally Rep. Frank LoBiondo means new flights from Newark Airport. Norwegian Air International received final Transportation Department approval Friday. It is […]

Norwegian Air International gets final approval for flights to U.S., despite opposition As reported by Hugo Martin in Los Angeles Times Despite opposition from American carriers, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final permit Friday to allow Norwegian Air International to fly in and out of the U.S. from a base in Ireland. Opponents, […]

US Gives Norwegian Air OK to Expand Disputed Low-cost Flights Here As reported by Dominic Gates in The Seattle Times In a decision released Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) finally granted European low-cost carrier Norwegian Air a permit that will allow it to expand flights to the U.S., despite fierce opposition from large U.S. […]

Washington, DC – Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) issues this statement in response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s approval of a foreign air carrier permit for Norwegian Air International (NAI):  “Today’s decision betrays America’s aviation workers by granting a rogue, flag-of-convenience airline a permit to serve the United States. […]

Trump’s pick for transportation secretary could be good for companies with self-driving ambitions As reported by Johana Bhuiyan on Recode Donald Trump will reportedly nominate Elaine Chao — the former secretary of labor under the Bush administration who also served as the deputy secretary of transportation under the previous Bush administration — to be the […]

President-elect Trump picks Chao to run USDOT As reported by Progressive Railroading President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Elaine Chao as the next U.S. secretary of transportation drew praise today from several rail industry leaders and organizations. Chao served as secretary of labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 through 2009. She also served as […]

Trump’s transport chief pick has record of rolling back regs As reported by Reynolds Hutchins in Journal of Commerce WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Department of Transportation, former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, has a track record of rolling back regulation and a pro-business bent that has run afoul of labor unions. […]

“Secretary-designate Chao has an opportunity to play a large role in living up to the commitments made by President-elect Trump that he would rebuild the middle class through job-creation policies. Advancing massive federal investment in new transportation projects is one of the best policy strategies for improving our economy, boosting American competitiveness and putting millions to work.”