June 14, 2026 to June 20, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning the trucking, rail, and shipping industries, ports, storage centers, cargo and container terminals, international and inter-provincial logistics, fulfillment centres, courier and delivery services. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Freight & Transport? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Oil & Gas and Defence. Also consider subscribing to our Freight & Transport - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on U.S. Airline Industry Competition: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust is scheduled to hold a hearing titled “The 30,000 Foot View: Competition and Regulation in the U.S. Airline Industry” in Rayburn House Office Building, room 2141, on June 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
• Senate Hearing on Reforming the Postal Service's Business Model: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will conduct open hearings on reforming the U.S. Postal Service's business model in Dirksen Senate Office Building, room 342, June 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
• Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Airspace Safety: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation will examine safety improvements across the National Airspace System; Russell Senate Office Building, room 253, scheduled for June 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

Federal Government News

Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail Open and Distribute Parcel Mailings Discontinued

The Postal Service published a final rule discontinuing the mailing of parcels via Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail Open and Distribute, effective January 17, 2027. The revised rule is in response to a comment about regulatory applicability and clarifies legal exemptions from certain statutes. Letter and flat mailings will continue to be expedited, but parcel mailers may access Priority Mail Express services only through negotiated service agreements. The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is amended to reflect these changes, including updates to barcode and tray labeling standards, entry procedures, address label requirements, and permissible container types. The rule brings administrative updates to several sections of commercial and special standards within DMM part 111.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Federal Maritime Commission Notices Agreements Filed

The Federal Maritime Commission acknowledged the filing of two agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Agreement No. 201103-019 amends assessment methods for ILWU-PMA employee benefit costs, revising the divisor for the man-hour base assessment rate and updating Appendix 1 figures, effective June 5, 2026. Agreement No. 201436-005 between MSC and Zim Integrated Shipping Services expands its geographic scope to include the Dominican Republic with expedited review requested and a proposed effective date of July 23, 2026. Public comments are invited within designated timeframes, and copies of agreements are available from the Commission.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Petition for Exemption Received: Amor Fati Industries Corp.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a petition from Amor Fati Industries Corp. seeking amendments to Exemption No. 25122. The relief requested would enable expanded Part 137 fire management and suppression operations using the Seneca Argo-3 unmanned aircraft system, featuring a maximum takeoff weight of 450 pounds. The petition also requests permission for up to five UAVs operated simultaneously by a single pilot-in-command and for beyond visual line of sight operations without visual observers, relying on shielding mitigations and ADS-B In technology. The public comment period for this petition runs through July 6, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Van-Type Trailers and Subassemblies Duty Investigations Scheduled

The U.S. International Trade Commission initiated the final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning van-type trailers and subassemblies from Canada, China, and Mexico. The investigations determine whether imports injure or threaten U.S. industry. Commerce issued preliminary findings of subsidies in China and Mexico, and the final scope covers various trailer assemblies and parts over 26,000 lbs. Public filings are electronic-only, and the prehearing staff report is scheduled for August 7, 2026. Hearings begin August 20, 2026, with posthearing briefs due August 27, while the Commission will make its information available September 18 with final comments due September 22.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House CEQ Announces Permitting Innovators Expo

The White House Council on Environmental Quality, in collaboration with NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, scheduled the Permitting Innovators Expo for July 31, 2026, at the Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key. The event aims to encourage public-private partnerships in environmental review and permitting processes. Solutions from the CEQ’s prior Innovators Call will be demonstrated, and the resulting Solutions Catalog will be released later this year. Registration is open for government, industry, and policy representatives, though attendance is limited.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Legislative Updates

To amend title 39 to establish rules for centralized mail delivery to residential housing units

Bill 9343 seeks to establish rules for the United States Postal Service on centralized delivery of mail to residential housing units. The legislation was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for further consideration.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026

Bill 9338, the Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026, was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and additionally to the Committee on Energy and Commerce for jurisdictional review.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Clarification of USMCA and Foreign Trade Zones Tariff Treatment

Bill 4793 proposes clarifying provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act and Foreign Trade Zones Act regarding the proper tariff treatment of merchandise in U.S. foreign-trade zones. It was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Remedies for Air Transportation Passengers with Disabilities

Bills 4829 and 9373 intend to amend title 49 to provide remedies for air transportation passengers with disabilities who face discrimination. Bill 4829 was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, while Bill 9373 was sent to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Sources: www.congress.gov, www.congress.gov

USMMA Athletics Act of 2026

Bill 3266, addressing athletic programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, is currently placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders (Calendar No. 434).

Sources: www.congress.gov

Acquisition of NOAA Aircraft for Reconnaissance and Research

Bill 4802 authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to acquire aircraft for air, atmosphere, and weather reconnaissance and research purposes. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Designation of Colleen Hanabusa Post Office Building

Bill 4830 proposes to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service at 86-014 Farrington Highway in Waianae, Hawaii, as the "United States Representative Colleen Hanabusa Post Office Building," referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act

Bill 2715 relates to destruction of hazardous imports and was placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 613.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Improving Travel for Military Members Act

Bill 9328 was introduced to address travel improvements for military members and referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Strait of Hormuz Reopening Brings Relief for Global Economy: WSJ reports the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is easing concerns for maritime traffic and global trade.
• Sleep and light: the science behind Qantas' bet on 20-hour flights: Reuters examines Qantas’ research on sleep and lighting to support ultra-long-haul aviation.
• Stranded Ships Hoping for Escape Find a Turbulent Strait of Hormuz: NYT describes the challenges faced by vessels navigating through the Hormuz strait amid disruptions.
• U.S. Companies Stop Waiting for Supply Chains to Return to Normal: WSJ highlights how U.S. firms are adapting supply chain strategies rather than expecting pre-pandemic conditions.
• Opinion | Driverless Trucks Take Good Jobs Away From Americans: WSJ discusses concerns about employment shifts with increasing deployment of driverless freight trucks.
• Opinion | Around the Strait of Hormuz in 60 Days: WSJ provides commentary on recent agreements and activity affecting trade routes through the Hormuz strait.

.