US Government Boosts Oil Tanker Fleet in National Shipping Overhaul
The United States is boosting access to commercial products tankers as part of a security drive to safeguard oil shipping for its armed forces in times of crisis, a top Department of Transportation (DOT) official said.The U.S. flagged commercial fleet comprises a few dozen tankers with the majority involved in domestic trade and there has been concern over possible disruptions to the U.S. economy if those vessels were sought for use by the military, according to a Department of Defense study.The Tanker Security Program has aimed to charter 10 internationally trading vessels for 2023 that can move oil products. Each would receive an annual payment of up to $6 million and had to be U.S. operated and have U.S.
U.S. DOT Answers Questions on Drug & Alcohol Testing
DOT's Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance Publishes Official Q & A: The Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance, with the Office of General Counsel, issued a 49 CFR Part 40 Question and Answer. Like all ODAPC/OGC Qs & As, this Q & A constitutes official and authoritative guidance and interpretation concerning Part 40. The Q & A issued today is available on their website at: http://www.dot.gov/odapc/qanda.html. The Q & A explains how the Public Interest Exclusion process works when a service agent has been convicted for an offense related to non-compliance with Part 40 or DOT Agency drug and alcohol testing rules.
