Transport Rule Changes Proposed to Spur Growth : * Regulation: The Bush Administration estimates that improved efficiency in the aviation, rail, shipping and trucking industries would be worth more than $7 billion.

Transportation Secretary Andrew F. Card on Friday proposed 300 changes in regulations that he said would contribute billions of dollars to the economy without compromising safety.

Card’s proposals, based on a 90-day review of department rules, coincides with President Bush’s decision this week to extend for four months a moratorium on new government regulations. Bush said the freeze would save U.S. consumers at least $15 billion a year.

The American shipping industry, aviation, trucking, airport security and railroad operations were among areas that might be affected.

Card said that if all the proposed alterations of transportation regulations are made, the cumulative, long-term economic growth they would generate could be worth more than $7.3 billion.

But the weeding of regulations will take months to accomplish, and it did not appear the changes would bring short-term gains.

Some of the proposals Card identified were in the works before Bush first announced, during his State of the Union address on Jan. 28., a 90-day moratorium on new regulations.

These include the Administration’s request to Congress to adopt legislation completely deregulating the interstate trucking industry, a step that Card asserted would save the economy between $3 billion and $8 billion annually.

“Economic deregulation is the cornerstone of a successful world-class transportation system,” Card asserted.

“Our review will lead to less paperwork, cancellation of obsolete regulations and fewer regulatory burdens on the industry,” he said at a news conference. “Less money spent for unnecessary regulatory compliance means lower prices for consumers and more money in the American economy that creates real jobs.”

Card said the department will also deal over the next several months with widespread complaints from the transportation industry over the scope of mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

Of the proposed changes, four would require action by Congress, 21 are considered “high priority” items that can be accomplished through the administrative process, and 61 have been singled out for quick action “because they will have a positive impact on the economy.”

They include:

* Revising regulations, developed in the 1940s, for seagoing ships that Card said are “overly restrictive for large modern container ships.” He said changes could boost the revenue of U.S. flag ships by $250 million a year through increasing cargo capacity by 3% to 8%.

* Giving airports more flexibility in carrying out security programs by placing the most expensive security systems in the most critical areas closest to airplanes.

* Harmonizing the differences between U.S. and international requirements for aircraft operation, maintenance, design and construction, a step Card said could save up to $1 billion a year without affecting safety.

* Changing work rules to permit railroads to take advantage of smaller crew sizes negotiated in the last round of collective bargaining with unions.

Card said the public will have the opportunity to comment on all of the proposed changes through the department’s normal rule-making process.