A.M. Executive Briefing - Aug. 16
This Morning's Headlines:
ul>
More Acquisitions May Lie Ahead
USF Worldwide's acquisition may continue after the company's purchase of Puerto Rican forwarder Best Ways Air Cargo last week.Gerry Post, executive vice president of the treight-forwarding subsidiary, says USF Worldwide plans "to continue to grow the company aggressively."
I suspect they believe it may be difficult for their LTL operations to grow in the next five years as they have in the past five years," he said.
USF Worldwide's operating revenue rose from $31.8 million in 1997 to $151.5 million in 1998, due mostly to the purchase of Seko World-wide in October 1997. That added to the company's domestic operations, which contribute a little more than 50% of company revenue, while the 1998 purchase of Golden Eagle gave USF Worldwide more international business. Journal of Commerce (08/16/99) P. 20; Armbruster, William (See also: FDX-USF COmpetition Heats Up in Puerto Rico
Farmworker Families File Suit in Crash Deaths
The lawsuit filed by relatives of the workers who died or were hurt when their van crashed into a tractor-trailer allege that "defective, dangerous, and unsafe" use of the truck was allowed by driver Adrian Erazo and the companies owning the tractor and trailers.The plaintiffs' lawyer, Robert Perez, says Erazo may have had insufficient space to make the U-turn he was attempting without the tires sticking in the mud at roadside or without having to make a three-point turn. Perez adds that the trailer and containers lacked side-mounted reflective materials, which were legally mandated in 1993 — but with a grandfather clause for trucks in use before then.
California Highway Patrol Sgt. Ted Eichman says investigators will look for mechanical problems with the truck and van, including seeing whether the lights on both vehicles and the side market lights on the big rig were working. Eichman also says U-turns are permitted unless they block other vehicles' right of way, but says the roadside mud seemed not to have affected the accident.
California legislators intend a hearing and examination of the laws that permitted the van to be used without safety belts.
onsul general Lordes Chavez says, "This is a tragedy for all Mexicans. The next time people grab a piece of fruit or a vegetable, they should think about the people in the fields." San Francisco Chronicle Online (08/13/99); Gledhill, Lynda (Editor’s Note: Thirteen people died in the Aug. 9 crash.)
Interstate Bridge Damage Rated No Threat To Public
Although traffic was snarled more than six hours Thursday after a metal lima-bean seed container came off a flatbed trailer and hit some Interstate 5 bridge pilings, Oregon state inspectors say it resulted in the slight bend in a secondary horizontal beam, which does not threaten safety.The driver received a "loose and shifting load" citation. The inspectors add that the damage will soon be fixed at an estimated cost of $10,000 or so, which will be covered by the carrier's, driver's or container owner's insurance.
While Fourte Bros. Trucking was marked on the truck as owner, T.R. Compton had contracted the truck.
Lane closings necessary for the repairs are not expected to hold up traffic since the work will be done at night. Oregonian Online (08/14/99); Spicer, Osker (Editor’s Note: The Interstate Bridge along Interstate 5 crosses the Columbia river, connecting Oregon and Washington state.)
Business Insider: Brad Seymour Purchases Scotts Inc.
Brad Seymour, general manager of the trucking firm and truck broker Scotts Inc. of Grand Forks, N.D., has bought the company and the affiliated Scott's Express and Scott's Transportation Services. Seymour, a 25-year trucking veteran, spent 10 years as general manager of the two affiliated companies before the death of owner Robert Pederson.Fleet Equipment (07/99) Vol. 25, No. 7, P. 30
GKDC, Port of Corpus Make Deal
The Greater Kelly Development Corp. will hook up its air and truck shipping ability with the Port of Corpus Christi ocean lines and the Union Pacific rail connection between the port and Kelly.The deal, which occurred Thursday, will allow the three participants to refer shippers to one another, but, eventually, they might be able to provide package logistics services to shippers. Since the deal is not exclusive, the participants can go after customers separately, but the port's executive director, John LaRue, says the deal will give the participants new opportunities in the immediate future and beyond.
The port is getting a new refrigerated food warehouse, and LaRue says food distribution "is a target service at the Greater Kelly Development Corp., too," adding that the deal could soon lead to handling of Mexican steel and automotive goods from San Antonio. In addition, the port may construct a container dock by 2004. San Antonio Express-News Online (08/12/99); Hendricks, David
QUALCOMM Inc. orders Canadian Marconi's New GPS-based Smart Antenna
Qualcomm has ordered more than 2,500 Canadian Marconi Co. Smart Antennas for its Brazilian and Mexican clients.The Smart Antenna works with the Global Positioning System for trucking communications and truck tracking.
Qualcomm Program Director Davis J. Gammage says, "We selected the 12-channel Canadian Marconi Smart Antenna because of its high-performance design and durability. Canadian Marconi's responsiveness to our tight delivery requirements was also an important factor in our selection." Canada NewsWire (08/12/99)
Comdata's Clients Keep On Truckin' - VAR Puts Customers on the Road Again
The Comchek card from Comdata Corp., a leading computer reseller, can now be used on the Maestro network thanks to very small aperture terminals (VSATs) from Hughes Network Systems that allow satellite-network access.Comdata first offered the card to truckers to pay for fuel and service. Subsequently, MasterCard International and First America Bank joined a partnership with Comdata to make the Comchek a versatile debit card. Comdata's trucking clients number approximately 21,000.
The 35-second point-of-sale transaction time, in which truck-stop employees used to have to send data over telephone lines, is now down to 5 seconds thanks to the VSAT system. Hughes installs and maintains the VSATs, while Comdata resells or leases the systems to truck stops.
Comdata's business includes data collection and point-of-sale service for truck stops. Computer Reseller News Online (08/09/99) ; Pepe, Michele
© copyright 1999 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
