A.M. Executive Summary - August 9
This Morning's Headlines:
ul>
Pa. Sues Trucking Firm Over Fatal Crash on I-95
The attorney general of Pennsylvania is suing Samuel Coraluzzo Co., a Vineland, N.J., trucking company, for allowing violations of federal regulations that the federal government blamed for a fatal May 1998 tanker crash on Interstate 95.Although the state is seeking to recoup the $3 million it spent on repairs of the interstate, as states commonly do in such cases, Pennsylvania is also seeking punitive damages. Widener University law professor Tom Reed says the desire for punitive damages is "a new thing for the commonwealth," predicting that "this is going to be a very high-profile case."
The trucking company, which investigators found had not overseen hours of service, settled with the Office of Motor Carriers and Highway Safety for a $11,000 fine. The company argues that the May 1998 crash was actually caused by another driver cutting in front of the tanker, although police have not found this driver.
Parents Against Tired Truckers founder Daphne Izer says the Pennsylvania lawsuit is "another sign that states are not sitting back and taking it any longer."
The lawsuit comes as federal regulators and legislators are already working on tightening truck safety. The federal Transportation Department said Friday that it will seek to change hours-of-service limits, which have not been altered in six decades.
Although Federal Highway Administration spokeswoman Gail Shibley did not reveal specific changes to reporters, federal regulators have thought over mandatory rest breaks of 14 hours.
The Transportation Department's announcement came a few days after Rep Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) proposed creating a new truck-safety agency separate from the FHWA. Philadelphia Inquirer Online (08/07/99); Downs, Jere
Truck Firm Had Safety Problems
First Class Service Trucking Co., whose truck was involved in a recent fatal California accident, was also involved in a Nevada accident last month that also resulted from breaking nylon restraints. However, the accidents involved different truckers.In California, six people died Aug. 2 when three 23-ton concrete pipes fell off a flatbed trailer and hit two vehicles.
In the July 7 accident in Reno, about 150 plastic pipes fell off a truck rounding a curve. Only one person was hurt in that accident, in which the driver sustained minor cuts. Charles Allen of the Nevada Highway Patrol says, "It looked like the straps had rotted somewhat."
California Highway Patrol statistics show First Class received seven safety citations in the past year and had a 42.5% rate of trucks ordered off the road following state inspections. The average rate across the country is 25.1%. However, First Class was given a satisfactory safety rating. Business Geographics (07/99) Vol. 7, No. 7, P. 30
UPS Theft Involved Pit Bull Threat
A United Parcel Service truck was stolen by a man who used a pit bull to threaten the driver. When the truck was found later, some of its contents were missing. Journal of Commerce (08/09/99) P. 15Second DOT Workshop Criticized as a Waste of Time
Last week, participants in a Department of Transportation's workshop on halving the rate of truck-crash fatalities over the next decade were upset that the DOT submitted a bill to Congress regarding the same goal the day before the workshop started.National Industrial Transportation League governmental-affairs director Kathy Lunh says she asked DOT officials, "Why are we going to spend two days if you have already made up your mind?"
The officials responded that Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater wanted to get the bill out before another highway-safety bill was proposed by Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.).
Jim York of the National Private Truck Council decided not to go back to the workshop on the second day, and Parents Against Tired Truckers' Daphne Izer says she "felt like we were playing a game, and I don't have time to waste like that." The Trucker Online (08/06/99) ; Whitsett, Jack
© copyright 1999 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
