| | | | |  | | By Alex Daugherty | Presented by the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association | With help from Tanya Snyder and Oriana Pawlyk
| | | — Another round of reconciliation talks is underway as Senate Democrats prepare for a possible agreement on a party-line spending bill. — The FAA reaches an agreement with AT&T and Verizon to upgrade aircraft altimeters and avoid 5G signal interference. — Big tech goes after Tesla's "full self-driving" technology after NHTSA releases crash data. IT'S TUESDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. As always, send tips, pitches, feedback and song lyrics to adaugherty@politico.com. You can find all of us on Twitter:@alextdaugherty, @TSnyderDC and @Oriana0214. "Have to catch an early train / got to be to work by nine / and if I had an aeroplane / I still couldn't make it on time."
| | | | A message from the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association: Truck and engine manufacturers have successfully collaborated with EPA to reduce heavy-duty on-highway engine emissions by 98%. And we're not done yet. As EPA works on new regulations to further reduce tailpipe emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks, our industry stands ready to help shape a final rule that will be technologically feasible, cost-effective, help achieve clean air goals, and result in products our customers will buy. Learn more at CleanTruckFacts.org | | | | | | JOE AND CHUCK REUNION TOUR: Burgess Everett reports that Senate Democrats are preparing for possible action on a party-line climate, tax and prescription-drugs bill after the latest round of talks between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.). Reminder: Manchin, among other things, has expressed opposition to an expanded electric vehicle tax credit for vehicles produced in the U.S. with union labor. RECESS AND DEADLINES: Manchin and Schumer met twice last week, and the Senate is back today before its scheduled July 4th recess starting June 27. Burgess also reports that a prominent Democratic pollster has tested how well portions of a hypothetical reconciliation bill fare with voters in key Senate races. "I'm spending a significant amount of time every day on it. I can't get into all the negotiations. I believe we're going to get there," said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who chairs the tax-focused Finance Committee. "Sen. Schumer makes these calls, but I think it's just really key to get this done before the August break." MAKING WAVES: President Joe Biden, speaking from the shores of Rehoboth Beach (North Shores, to be precise, where your MT host dug some epic sand castles back in the day), said he's hoping to make a decision on whether or not to proceed with a federal gas tax holiday by the end of this week. The White House has repeatedly said a federal gas tax holiday remains on the table, but has not stated a position amid opposition from congressional Republicans and some Democrats. "Yes, I am considering it," Biden said to reporters on Monday. "I hope I have a decision based on the data I'm looking for by the end of the week."
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| | | AGREEMENT REACHED: The FAA on Friday said an agreement with the telecom industry has been struck on a "phased approach" to upgrade aircraft altimeters and avoid signal interference while enabling AT&T and Verizon to boost their 5G signals around key airports, Oriana and John Hendel report . The agreement additionally identifies certain airports around which AT&T and Verizon can enhance their services with the "least risk of disrupting flight schedules," according to the announcement. "We believe we have identified a path that will continue to enable aviation and 5G C-band wireless to safely co-exist," acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said. "We appreciate the willingness of Verizon and AT&T to continue this important and productive collaboration with the aviation industry." BUT NEW ALTIMETERS NEEDED: The FAA has identified more than 1,700 Embraer and Airbus models that need retrofitted altimeters by year's end as the first tranche of aircraft slated for the upgrade. The FAA then ranked aircraft and altimeter models from most vulnerable to least, according to a memo reported last month by Reuters, which then dictates what groups they fall into for the retrofit timeline. The agency on Friday confirmed that approach, including that aircraft in regional jet service will require filters prior to 2023.
| | | GOING AFTER ADS OF AVS: The tech trade group Chamber of Progress — which counts Google, Amazon and Meta as members — is urging the FTC to investigate Tesla's marketing of "full self-driving" technology as misleading to drivers and contributing to crashes. In a letter shared with MT, the Chamber of Progress cited recently released crash data from NHTSA for high-tech cars that showed 392 crashes involving Level 2 vehicles, or cars that provide continuous assistance with acceleration, braking and steering. Of the 392 crashes reported between June 2021 and May 2022, 273 involved Teslas and 90 involved Hondas. "To ensure the safety of all drivers, I urge you to enforce the FTC's consumer protection mandate which holds companies like Tesla accountable for misleading marketing and repeated false advertisement of vehicle capabilities," Chamber of Progress CEO Adam Kovacevich wrote in a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan. EV STAT REPORT: Almost 200,000 EVs were sold in the first quarter of 2022 in the United States, an increase of 4.2 percent over the previous quarter and a 54 percent jump over the same period in 2021, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's latest quarterly report on electric vehicle sales released today. Despite the growth, EVs still account for less than 1 percent of all registered light-duty vehicles on U.S. roads. Meanwhile, public EV charging locations have increased 20 percent since Jan. 1, 2021. Globally, EVs represented 5.9 percent of all light-duty vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2022, unchanged from the previous quarter.
| | | | A message from the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association:   | | | | | | TAX FOR TRENCHES: Truck dealers are flying in this week to advocate for the repeal of the 12 percent federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks. The American Truck Dealers, a division of the National Automobile Dealers Association, is urging Congress to support S. 2435 (117) and H.R. 8116 (117), legislation that would repeal the excise tax. The truck dealers argue that the tax, which was first introduced to help pay for World War I, adds as much as $22,000 on the price of a new heavy-duty truck. NOT JUST THE BOTTOM LINE : The dealers say that upcoming EPA regulations will require replacing older trucks and trailers with cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles in the coming years, but that the tax disincentivizes the purchase of new, cleaner vehicles. NOMINEE WATCH: FMCSA acting Administrator Robin Hutcheson will receive a Senate Commerce Committee vote on Wednesday after her confirmation hearing earlier this month. Hutcheson is the highest-profile DOT nominee currently under Senate consideration, though Biden has yet to officially announce a nomineeto replace retired FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson and a nominee for the FHWA.
| | | | DON'T MISS DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | | | | | The American Trucking Associations, which recently moved offices to 80 M St. S.E., announced a number of personnel moves. Ryan Bowley was hired as the executive director of the moving and storage conference, while Mike Matousek was hired as director of ATA's government freight conference. Both Bowley and Matousek previously worked with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and on Capitol Hill. Paul Ruiz was promoted to director of energy and environmental affairs. Ruiz was previously ATA's senior manager of safety and technology policy, and previously worked at Securing America's Future Energy and the Electrification Coalition.
| | | — "VW U.S. chief warns of industry challenges with EV battery shift." Reuters. — "Cathay Pacific can't stop pilot exodus as it tries to hire more." Bloomberg. — "Delta pilots write open letter to customers as airline industry struggles to keep up with traveler demand." NBC News. — "SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk." The New York Times. — "Cruise's San Francisco robotaxis seize initiative in race for autonomy." FT. — "Self-driving big rigs are coming. Is America ready?" The Wall Street Journal. — "White House exploration of gas rebate cards complicated by chip shortages." The Washington Post.
| | | 9 a.m. — The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals hosts a press conference to release the 33rd annual State of Logistics report, including a panel discussion and audience Q&A. 9:30 a.m. — The American Society of Travel Advisors holds a virtual news conference on the state of the travel industry. Did we miss an event? Let MT know at transpocalendar@politicopro.com.
| | | | A message from the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association: Truck and engine manufacturers support cleaner air and healthier communities. We have reduced tailpipe emissions by 98%, and we stand ready to partner with EPA to develop a workable NOx emissions rule. To be effective, a final rule must support fleet turnover. Specifically, it must ensure that commercial vehicles remain affordable and reliable trucks and that owners are willing to purchase them and permanently retire older, higher-emitting trucks.
Critically, the final rule must also serve as a bridge, not a barrier, to a zero-emissions future. Our industry is investing billions of dollars to develop the cleanest possible engines, with the ultimate goal of eliminating all tailpipe emissions. To realize that future, EPA must finalize a single-step, workable rule that not only achieves clean air goals, but also assures fleet owners and businesses, through incentives and infrastructure investment, the confidence they need to make that transition successful. Learn more at www.cleantruckfacts.org | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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