IN THIS ISSUE:

• Rep. Peter DeFazio Introduces Grow America Act
• House Passes Two-Month Highway Trust Fund Patch; Senate’s Turn to Act
• Rural America Needs Road, Bridge Overhaul, Report Says

Rep. Peter DeFazio Introduces Grow America Act
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the chamber’s top Democrat on the transportation policy panel, introduced President Obama’s transportation plan as legislation on the same day the House voted on a two-month funding patch for highway programs.

House Passes Two-Month Highway Trust Fund Patch; Senate’s Turn to Act
House Republicans on May 19 garnered plenty of support for a two-month extension of highway funding authority, even as a pesky cadre of Democrats criticized their efforts.

Rural America Needs Road, Bridge Overhaul, Report Says
Rural American communities also have transportation needs and suffer from dilapidated roads and bridges, says a report from TRIP, a nonprofit transportation research group.

Reefer Manufacturers Seek Delay in Adoption of New EPA Proposal
Manufacturers of refrigerated trailers and trailer refrigeration units are seeking a delay in adoption of a new federal regulation that could have a profound effect on the equipment used by reefer fleets.

Driverless Vehicles May Cut US Auto Sales by 40%, Analyst Says
U.S. auto sales may drop about 40% in the next 25 years because of shared driverless cars, forcing mass-market producers such as General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. to slash output, a Barclays analyst said.

Natural Gas for Heavy-Duty Trucks Could Increase Global Warming, New Report Says
A switch to cleaner-burning natural gas as a fuel for heavy-duty trucks could increase global warming due to the release of methane at drilling sites and the fact that natural gas-powered engines get fewer miles per gallon than traditional diesel-powered engines, according to a report issued May 19 by the Environmental Defense Fund.

Guardrail Review Revamped by Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration tightened its review process for highway guardrails and other roadside devices, making the first major changes since questions about the safety of a Trinity Industries Inc. system emerged in 2012.

Caterpillar Adds CT680 Model to its Line of Vocational Trucks
Caterpillar has expanded its line of Class 8 vocational trucks with its new CT680 model, a set-forward-axle truck designed for heavy applications and tough conditions.

E-Commerce Increases 3.5%
Sales on e-commerce websites increased 3.5% in the first three months of the year from the previous quarter, reaching a record $80 billion worth of purchases, according to seasonally adjusted figures released by the Commerce Department on May 15.

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