General Information
Part 1: The rise and fall of the Interstate Commerce Commission
(Source: Freight Waves, November 13, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was the first independent regulatory agency in the United States, and was created in 1887 when Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act. During its tenure the Commission’s members were appointed by the President, with the consent of the United States Senate.…
Read MoreU.S. intermodal-rail volume spikes in Week 45
(Source: Progressive Railroading 11/12/2020) The U.S. intermodal-rail traffic growth trend continued during the week ending Nov. 7, with trailer and container volume increasing 10.3% to 293,746 units compared with the same week in 2019, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. The carload volume trend continued its downward slide, however. U.S. railroads logged 228,282 carloads during…
Read MorePresident-Elect Biden adds 27 union leaders to transition team
(Source: UcommBlog, November 11, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Joe Biden becoming the President-elect on Saturday, the process of transitioning from Trump to Biden has begun. Even without the help of Trump or the General Services Administration (GSA), Biden is moving forward to ensure as seamless a transition as possible. Three appointees to his U.S.…
Read MoreA Biden presidency’s potential impact on rail unclear
(Source: Freight Waves, November 10, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A White House administration under Democratic President-elect Joe Biden could see renewed support for passenger rail, given Biden’s previous support of Amtrak and high-speed rail. Full story: Freight Waves Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Read MoreVeterans Day 2020
By Dennis R. PierceBLET National President INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, November 11 — We are grateful for the sacrifices our veterans have made — and continue to make — on our behalf. We are also grateful to the families of our veterans who bravely carry on with their normal lives while their loved ones are performing their…
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