Trucking and tariffs

At the 2025 Management Conference & Exhibition the CEO of the American Trucking Association announced that the group is considering changing its policies as tariffs continue to harm the trucking industry’s financial  recovery.

The CEO’s statement: “If tariffs continue trucking’s prolonged freight recession, ATA may well consider strategic shifts that address the direct and indirect impacts on our industry,” Spear said. “Stay tuned.

Trucking Dive | ATA calls out tariff policies, notes potential strategy change

Police cybertruck fleet

Las Vegas police unveiled its Cybertruck fleet. The announcement included a robotic dog on the podium, drones, and flashing lights. Very Las Vegas and intended to show that the city has the most technologically advanced police department in the country.

They’re really leaning into 20 years ago when a CSI television franchise called Las Vegas home. 

Las. Vegas Sun | Metro Police unveils fleet of Tesla Cybertrucks

License plate readers public information?

A public information request in Washington State raised the issue of whether the data on a city’s license plate readers are public information. While the court decides, the city disabled the license plate readers after 3 months of use.

Timely data question for procurement: Is the data involved in a procurement public information?

Everrett Herald | Stanwood pauses Flock cameras amid public records lawsuits

GovTech | Sedro-Woolley, Wash., Disables Its License Plate Cameras

+1 state speed limiters for reckless drivers

In May we talked about Washington State adding speed limiters as possible penalties for reckless drivers. Add Virginia and Wisconsin to the list of states seeking to tackle reckless drivers by employing speed limiters upon conviction.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Wisconsin lawmakers’ latest idea to tackle reckless driving uses new tech to limit speed

Electric > green for messaging?

We talked about Uber Green many moons ago. This week Uber Green is getting a re-brand. Let’s all welcome, Uber Electric.

“Per the company, the new name “reflects record EV growth on our platform, making it easier for riders to choose zero-emissions rides.Uber elaborated that over 200,000 EVs are driving on its global network, and 1 in 4 of its customers say their first-ever EV ride was through the Uber app.”

Electrek | ‘Uber Green’ shifts to ‘Uber Electric,’ and is offering (some) drivers $4k to switch to an EV

53% of airline delays tied to air traffic control shortages

The Government shutdown has led to air traffic controller shortages. In turn, this has led to more flight delays. 53% of flight delays are directly tied to air traffic controller shortages. The usual rate of flight delays due to air traffic controller shortages? 5%.  5% to 53% delay rate; well that is something.

Veto of a car dealer bill

SB 791 would have increased the amount car dealerships can charge for processing fees from $85 to up to 1% of the purchase price, capped at $260. The bill was vetoed.

The veto message includes, “At a time when Californians are already struggling with the high cost of living, this bill would raise the document processing fee to three times the current $85 cap – far beyond what an inflation adjustment would justify.”

The veto message also includes a note that there are also no additional requirements on car dealerships.

Cal Matters | Newsom vetoes car dealers’ bill to hike fees on buyers

Las Vegas high speed rail cost estimate

We’ve talked about the high speed rail project between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The project was estimated to cost $12 billion. A newly revised cost estimate is $21.05 billion. Yeah, so even people who don’t like math can say, “uh, yeah, that’s an increase.” The project has been touted by U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy.

Las Vegas Journal Review | Cost of Brightline’s Vegas-to-LA project skyrockets in new document