A.M. Executive Briefing - August 2
This Morning's Headlines:
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Businesses Want State to Ease Truck Rules
The Committee for Job Preservation — a Vermont-based group of businesses, associations and individuals — is holding a petition drive opposing rules on trucks on Routes 7 and 4 in the state.The mining company OMYA ran up against limits from the Vermont Environmental Board when it wanted to increase its marble-ore truck traffic on Route 7 to twice as many trips as before.
The Committee for Job Preservation also wants to allow 53-foot trailers on part of Route 4 where they are currently prohibited. However, some business owners want trucks restricted altogether.
Brandon Inn owner Sarah Pettis says that "the sheer number of trucks . . . compromises small town atmosphere, which is why people come here." Boston Globe Online (08/02/99)
N.J. Truckers Not Exempt From State Overtime Law
Overturning a district court ruling, a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit Appeals Court said New Jersey must apply its state overtime laws to the trucking industry.Four truck drivers sued Loomis Fargo in a successful attempt to wipe out a 1996 exemption from the state labor commissioner, saying trucking companies need to pay only one and a half times the $5.05 state minimum wage for overtime. Other industries need to pay time and a half based on the employees’ regular wage.
The district court must now decide damages in the case.
The four drivers are asking for back pay, contending that their employers refused to pay overtime even before the 1996 exemption.
aul Shachter, the truckers' counsel, expects Loomis Fargo to fight the decision. Law News Network (07/26/99) ; Davis, Wendy
Tanker Crash Closes Highway for 5 Hours
Both directions of the Long Island Expressway in New York City were closed Sunday after a tractor-trailer carrying liquid oxygen skidded into the rain-slick highway’s center divider about 8:40 a.m.The tank fell over across the entire three-lane westbound side of the expressway. The shutdown, which extended to local service roads, lasted several hours and backed up some traffic all the way to Suffolk County.
Although there was no spill, nearby homes and businesses were evacuated as a precaution.
The only injuries sustained in the crash were minor ones to the truck driver, Richard McDonald of Logistics Express.
In March, another liquid-oxygen tanker crash shut down Interstate 210 in California. New York Times (08/02/99) P. A17; Herszenhorn, David M.
Brazilian Truckers End Strike
The Truck Drivers Movement in Brazil agreed to call off a four-day strike after the government said it will not raise tolls. In addition, the government has agreed to reconsider some traffic laws that drivers say are too tough, and will look to improve the federal roads’ security system. Fleet Equipment (07/99) Vol. 25, No. 7, P. 30Ohio Plant That Employs 300 Workers Will be Sold
Citing changing manufacturing strategies, the auto-components supplier Dana Corp. intends to sell an Ohio forging factory with the help of CIBC World Markets. Dana took over the factory, which last year had sales totaling $50 million, when it purchased heavy axle and brake operations from Eaton Corp. Wall Street Journal (08/02/99) P. C22Freightliner Leads Funding, Development of New Trucking Image Campaign
Freightliner Corp. is working with American Trucking Associations to improve the image of trucking, which ATA President Walter B. McCormick Jr. called "an essential, vital element of our economy."The image campaign will include advertisements in popular newspapers and magazines up until the association’s October convention. ATA and Freightliner are also working on grass-roots campaign ideas.
ATA studies suggest that the general public is not very cognizant of truck-safety issues, nor are there positive images of trucking. Still, a majority of Americans do recognize that the industry is commercially necessary. Business Wire (07/30/99)
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