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— BlackBerry, which has its software in 150 million cars, has expanded its D.C. presence and is keeping tabs on policy developments in transportation and tech.
— Auto executives got the Trump Twitter treatment after a New York Times story earlier in the week suggested the administration’s emissions rollback may be in disarray.
— The major players in the trucking industry are uniting against a provision in a House appropriations bill, which would require DOT to post companies’ scores under a controversial compliance program on its website.
IT’S THURSDAY: Thanks for tuning in to POLITICO’s Morning Transportation, your daily tipsheet on all things trains, planes, automobiles and ports. Get in touch with tips, feedback or song lyric suggestions at smintz@politico.com or @samjmintz.
LISTEN HERE: Follow MT’s playlist on Spotify. What better way to start your day than with songs (picked by us and readers) about roads, rails, rivers and runways?
BLACKBERRY’S TRANSPORTATION PUSH: Transportation probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the company BlackBerry. But the one-time phone giant, which now has its QNX operating system in 150 million cars, is looking to expand its presence in transportation policy. Jeff Davis, who joined BlackBerry as senior director for connected transportation in February, had the company join trade groups including the new AV coalition Partners for Automated Vehicle Education and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, where he used to work. In an interview, he said he’s keeping a close eye on policymaking in D.C., which is crucial to the company’s goal of being a major player in connected transportation.
That includes the 5.9 GHz saga at the FCC, the rumored restart of autonomous vehicle legislation in Congress, and the surface transportation bill that the Senate introduced last month. Like others in the sector, he was disappointed by the collapse of the AV START bill last year and wants to see legislation that could “reduce the patchwork” of regulations. Davis thought the Senate’s surface bill was “promising” but wants money set aside specifically for cybersecurity. And BlackBerry stands with automakers and safety advocates on the 5.9 GHz spectrum, arguing the FCC should reserve it for transportation uses. “What’s most important to us is that we create an environment that allows for all technologies to get in there and allows the market to actually pick one,” he said.
Here’s his overall view on the niche BlackBerry can fill: “When you look at the way that automobiles are going, and you look at the way that transportation is going in general, you’ve got a real challenge with organizations that aren’t used to dealing with technology writ large as part of their day to day lives,” he said. “We see a lot of software companies jumping in that don’t necessarily have pedigrees in looking at security and safety and mission critical systems.” Davis’ argument: BlackBerry, with a pedigree that includes systems running in “everything from the International Space Station to the Bellagio casino … and nuclear power plants,” can fill that gap.
CAR COMPANIES GET THE TRUMP TWITTER TREATMENT: President Donald Trump slammed auto executives on Twitter on Wednesday, calling them “foolish” for siding with California in a fight over emissions standards. As POLITICO’s Caitlyn Oprysko writes, “Trump appeared to be referring to reports that his plan to scrap former President Barack Obama’s remaining signature climate change rules, which dictated auto emissions, stands threatened by automakers planning to adhere to the stronger regulations anyway.”
Later, he said that Henry Ford and Alfred Sloan, the founders of Ford and General Motors, are “rolling over” at the “weakness of current car company executives.”
An all-timer: The tweets included one of MT’s favorite Trumpisms, complete with unnecessary capitalization, when he referred to “politically correct Automobile Companies.”
MAILBAG: Three trucking industry groups spoke out against what they argue is a “dangerous policy rider” in a House-passed fiscal 2020 appropriations bill, which would roll back changes to FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program. The provision would require the agency to post violations under CSA on its website. In a letter, the industry groups say the move would be a departure from bipartisan language in the FAST Act, which made reforms to the scoring system after watchdogs at GAO and the DOT inspector general found it had major flaws. Signing on were the American Trucking Associations, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, and the Transportation Intermediaries Association.
A BAN ON DRIVERLESS TRUCKS? A Missouri state legislator is working on a bill that would ban autonomous trucks completely in the state, as truck drivers gathered at the state capitol this week to protest. Here’s organizer Billy Bogar, as quoted by TV station KRCG: “This is my job. I mean, once these things come in, I’m done; I’m out. Most of these people coming in today are literally a week out of being out of business.” Another local outlet reported the Missouri truckers are planning a protest in D.C. in October as well. And state Rep. Mike Moon, a Republican, wants to see movement on his yet-to-be introduced legislation by that same month.
FAA PRESSED ON REAUTH IMPLEMENTATION: Flight attendants are pushing new FAA Administrator Steve Dickson to implement “key safety provisions” included in the reauthorization bill that Congress passed last year, including a 10-hour rest minimum for flight attendants. “Despite a 30-day deadline to implement these rest requirements,10 months later many of the key provisions of the law have not been enacted,” wrote Lori Bassani, national president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, in an op-ed. Other provisions she emphasized were cabin evacuation procedures, as well as seating configurations and air quality.
UPS ASKS FAA FOR DRONE DELIVERY EXEMPTIONS: The company’s bid to join the drone delivery race, which it announced last month, has hit the Federal Register: A notice set to publish today from the FAA says the company’s new drone subsidiary, UPS Flight Forward, is asking for an exemption from federal regulations to fly drones over people, at night and beyond the line of sight for the purpose of package delivery.
HOT DOC: CBO published a cost estimate for Brand USA extension bill approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last month.
— “‘I’m not even 30, and I’m flying my own jet’ — Silicon Beach elites take a seat in the cockpit.” Los Angeles Times.
— “Dozens of Airbus A380s face urgent checks after cracked part dug from ice.” Reuters.
— “Pilot blames bad gas in Northern California plane crash.” Associated Press.
— “Americans will soon need Real ID to fly: What you need to know.” NBC News.
— “‘It’s disgraceful’: Pressure grows on Metro board member over role in Evans probe.” Washington Post.
— “Japan, U.S. finalize deal on additional daytime flights from Tokyo’s Haneda.” Reuters.
— “‘Too intoxicated to fly’: California woman bites, kicks officers at BWI, police say.” Baltimore Sun.
— “Analysis of disengagements in semi-autonomous vehicles: Drivers’ takeover performance and operational implications.” Mineta Transportation Institute.
DOT appropriations run out in 39 days. The FAA reauthorization expires in 1,500 days. Highway and transit policy is up for renewal in 405 days.
