Executive Briefing - May 4
- Oshkosh Truck Delivers First Truck for U.S. Marines
- Missouri Closer to Lowering Drunken Driving Threshold
- FMCSA Proposal Would Disqualify Reckless Drivers
- S.C. Grounds Highway Patrol Plane
- Dell Computer Recalls Batteries
- Bush to Revise Ban on Forest Roads
- Foreign Trucks Increase U.S. Market Share
- Rail Intermodal Slump Continues
- Michigan Forklift Companies Merging
Oshkosh Truck Delivers First Truck for U.S. Marines
Oshkosh Truck (OTRKB) said Friday that it has shipped the first group of its tactical vehicle, the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, to the U.S. Marines.
The MTVR, which was under development for more than 10 years, can carry heavy equipment and other supplies needed for military use. The MTVR replaces trucks the U.S. military was using for 50 years.
The Oshkosh, Wis.-based company is a manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies. Transport Topics
(Click here for the press release.)
Missouri Closer to Lowering Drunken Driving Threshold
As a way to ensure the state receives federal highway funds, the Missouri Senate easily passed a proposal to lower the drunken driving threshold to 0.08% from .10%, the Associated Press reported.The measure now goes to the House, and although similar measures have failed in past years, the threat of missing out on $3 million in funding means the bill will likely be passed.
The federal government also plans to penalize states 2% of their highway money beginning in 2004 if they have not yet adopted a 0.08% law. For Missouri, that would mean about $8.1 million.
The penalty will rise to 8% by 2007. Thirty-one states now have the 0.10%, while 19 states use the 0.08 percent limit. Transport Topics
FMCSA Proposal Would Disqualify Reckless Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed requiring disqualifying commercial drivers convicted of various traffic offenses while driving any vehicle.The agency said this could prevent nearly 500 accidents involving commercial vehicles each year.
Offenses that would disqualify drivers include drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, substance-related felonies, violating railroad-crossing signals and reckless driving.
Under the proposed rule, states would be required to disqualify convicted drivers by canceling their commercial license. Transport Topics
(Click here for the press release.)
S.C. Grounds Highway Patrol Plane
Due to budget cuts, South Carolina has grounded its lone highway patrol airplane, the Associated Press reported.When in use, the plane on average would catch 10-15 drivers per hour for speeding or reckless driving. During its one year in service, it was involved in about 4,100 cases.
South Carolina began using the plane to cut down on traffic deaths. The state ranks as the third worst for traffic fatalities. Transport Topics
Dell Computer Recalls Batteries
Austin, Texas-based Dell Computer Corp. (DELL) said that it is recalling 284,000 batteries used in notebook computers because of a potential fire hazard.
Much of the trucking industry, from company executives to drivers, use laptop computers every day.
The recall includes batteries sold from January 2000 to March 2001 for Inspiron 5000 and 5000e computers. The laptops were marketed to individuals and small-business.
The actual computer does not pose a danger. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
Bush to Revise Ban on Forest Roads
The Bush Administration said it will leave in place a Clinton administration plan to ban building roads and logging on 58.5 million acres of forest areas, but will implement it on a case-by-case basis, news services reported.The plan, which President Clinton announced during his final days in office, was not well received by trucking companies because the logging industry is a very large and important customer.
While industry is eager to maintain roads and access to the forests, environmental groups say more traffic would pollute drinking water, harm wildlife and damage recreational areas.
Previously, that states of Idaho, Alaska and Utah filed suit against the law. Transport Topics
Foreign Trucks Increase U.S. Market Share
In the 1990’s, U.S. vehicle makers had 86% of the U.S. light truck market. But this year, that number has declined to about 77% as foreign vehicles increase their market share, the New York Times reported.Light trucks include pickup trucks, sport-utility vehicles and minivans, which are used by many utility fleets.
Analysts say the foreign market share of the U.S. light truck market will probably grow to 50% by 2010.
he article noted recalls of domestic vehicles like the Ford Explorer are contributing to the United States’ increased interest in foreign brands. Transport Topics
Rail Intermodal Slump Continues
Intermodal traffic on U.S. railroads dropped 1.2% during the week ended April 28 compared to the corresponding week in 2000, the Association of American Railroads reported.Total trailers and containers loaded during the week came to 171,277 compared with 173,417 in 2000.
However trailers loaded dropped 7.4% in the year-to-year comparison, while contain-ers dropped 1.6%. Trailers reflect domestic movements, while containers include international trade and the downturn in intermodal trailers result in part from more sluggish economic activity in the U.S.
For the year-to-date, trailers were down 10.4% and containers down 1.3%. The 17-week total of intermodal loadings came to 2,845,758 compared to 2,920,233 in the first 17 weeks of 2000. Transport Topics
Michigan Forklift Companies Merging
Forklifts of Detroit and Fraza Equipment said Thursday they are merging operations and should be blended within 90 days.Among the products the companies distribute are Caterpillar forklifts, Daewoo lift trucks, Linde lift trucks and rough terrain equipment by Sellick.
The two Michigan-based companies said the merger will allow them to better provide proper equipment for any material handling need. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
