A.M. Executive Briefing - Sept. 10
This Morning's Headlines:
ul>
Experts: Deterrence Efforts Lag
Law-enforcement personnel participating in the DSI Security Systems-sponsored cargo-theft conference in Miami say shippers and trucking carriers could do much more to head off cargo theft before it happens.Miami-Dade County cargo-theft enforcement chief Lt. Ed Petow cites how some shippers advertise the contents of containers by putting their names on seals, do not put extra padlocks and cables on trailers, and do not insist on nonstop service. In addition, shippers should find out about a trucker's background and where trucks will be parked overnight.
It is speculated that almost two-thirds of cargo theft in Florida and the adjacent portion of Georgia is sent to foreign countries to the south. Also, things stolen at truck stops around Ocala and Orlando tend to go toward Miami.
etow mentions a Virginia shipper who sought a carrier for a load worth some $1 million on an online truck brokerage, thus having no knowledge about the carrier. The cargo was hijacked near its Miami destination.
In addition to the recommendations above, it is also suggested that shippers find out about the anti-theft initiatives in place at carriers or 3PLs and inquire about trailer tracking and the loss ratio. Journal of Commerce (09/10/99) P. 5; Hall, Kevin G.
Driver Will Pay Fine
Trucker Michael Picard, 36, whose truck overturned on I-89 in Vermont last week, has been levied a $250 fine and may be given criminal charges as well. State police shut down a 20-mile stretch of I-89 and cleared people out of some homes in the area after the rollover because Picard's truck was marked with "poison" signs. However, there were no poisonous materials aboard the truck. ABC NewsWire (09/10/99)VPA Introduces New Truck Reservation System
The Vancouver Port Authority has created the Port of Vancouver Container Terminal Scheduling System for the Vanterm, Centerm, and Deltaport terminals. Carriers licensed by the port authority can reserve hourly time slots starting Sept. 24 for the CTS, which will commence operations Sept. 27. The CTS is intended to speed the flow of port-truck traffic in Vancouver."Our reservation system will evolve to include more electronic refinements as the port heads into the 21st century," says port authority CEO and President Norman Stark.
The port authority has scheduled meetings regarding the CTS for Sept. 14 at the Radisson Hotel in Burnaby and Sept. 15 at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey, and it has posted CTS information at www.portvancouver.com. Canada NewsWire (09/10/99)
Truck Driver In '94 Fatal Crash Tied to Scandal
In a Wednesday court filing, federal prosecutors investigating the CDL-bribery scandal in Illinois alleged that the driver of a truck whose taillight assembly fell off and led to a fatal wreck in 1994 had gotten his CDL with the assistance of Gilbert Mendoza, one of the people charged with having been involved in the scheme.Mendoza's trial is to begin Oct. 12, and the Wednesday filing said Mendoza has told the FBI that he accepted bribes of $800 to $1,200 to help unqualified drivers get CDLs.
ccording to the filing, the trucker, Ricardo Guzman, was sent to Mendoza by a truck owner several years ago, and secretary of state records say Guzman passed all the written tests the following day. In less than four days after being sent to Mendoza, Guzman had a CDL and was working for the truck owner who referred him to Mendoza.
Guzman's road test was held by Marion Seibel, who in February recorded a conversation wherein, the authorities say, Mendoza recommended lying to investigators about the scheme. Prosecutors have long claimed that George Velasco and Seibel, who respectively were manager and assistant manager at the McCook licensing site, were giving drivers passing marks on exams if they bought fundraiser tickets for the gubernatorial campaign of George Ryan. Chicago Tribune Online (09/09/99); O'Connor, Matt
Capital Region Developers Revive Corridor Initiative
The Capital District Transportation Committee and like-minded parties are trying to make the 300-mile corridor along the Adirondack Northway between the Albany, N.Y., area and Montreal into a thoroughfare for international trade. Among the members of the committee are the state Transportation Department and Thruway Authority.Among the proposals are a new trucking site in Albany and modifications to the Canadian Pacific Railway line adjacent to the Northway that would allow double-stacking. The coalition intends to formalize its structure and look for funding from the state and federal governments.
The coalition resulted from a 1998 project from the Saratoga Economic Development Corp. which tried to find ways for U.S. and Canadian businesses to work together in ten important sectors including transportation and warehousing and distribution. The coalition wants to address Canadian business' concerns that the Saratoga initiative did not have border-crossing improvements as a high enough priority.
The coalition is holding trade conferences Sept. 27 in Colonie and early next month in Plattsburgh. Capital District Business Review (Albany, N.Y.) Online (09/06/99); Dergurahian, Jean
'Explosive Growth' Drives UPS' Expansion Plans
Due to a great expansion in business around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, United Parcel Service is considering possible future steps including a new facility. Right now, the hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport — one of five the company operates nationwide — is at 70 percent capacity, with a 50 percent increase in volume just this year.According to UPS Southwest marketing manager Prem Arjoon, the expansion is largely due to increasing demand for air express service, including next-day service. UPS is in second place for U.S. air express, behind FedEx and behind Airborne Express. It has increased its Dallas-Fort Worth hub's payroll by 350 and currently has four other sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Looking ahead, UPS could add another, expand the airport hub, or institute an extra work shift at a site in Fort Worth. Another driving factor behind the business expansion in the area is greater demand from customers in the area around the airport. Dallas Business Journal Online (09/06/99); Allen, Margaret
COSE Shipping Service Forcing Shipper to Pack Up
Group Transportation Services, of Hudson, Ohio, is looking for more space to handle all of the extra business it gets as the transportation company used by the Council of Smaller Enterprises shipping program. Members of COSE have cut shipping costs between 5 percent and 35 percent since that program started last year. Group Transportation Services consolidates smallerhipments for truck or rail transportation and takes care of the members' paperwork.
COSE shipping-program product manager Robin Tyler says the service is popular with COSE members both because of the prices and the service. Group Transportation Services provides similar programs for many large organizations. Crain's Cleveland Business (09/06/99-09/12/99) Vol. 20, No. 36; P. 4; Ford, Tom
© copyright 1999 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
