Executive Briefing - Nov. 6
- Czech Government to Vote on Takeover of Truck Maker
- Company Developing Truck Screening System
- Pacer Reports Higher 3Q Revenues
- UPS Tests Electric Hybrid in Fleet
- Pierce to Supply California With 56 Trucks
- OPEC Could Cut Production by 6.5%
- TPG Claims 12% Higher Profits in 3Q
- Border Security Boosts Drug Seizures
- Mexico's Fox Says Economy Struggling
- Post Offices, Buildings Reopen After Anthrax Threat
- Canada's Vitran Announces Higher 3Q Revenues
- National Guardsmen to Help Customs
- Company Developing Truck Screening System
Czech Government to Vote on Takeover of Truck Maker
The Czech government will vote Wednesday on a proposal to sell truck maker Tatra to U.S.-based SDC International, Reuters reported.Tatra, which used to make huge numbers of trucks in the Communist era, produced 1,017 off-road trucks in during the first nine months of 2001, down 12.7% over the same period last year. However, strong second-half sales have the company projecting stronger full-year sales.
The government said that the price of a 91.6% stake in Tatra will be $10.2 million U.S. Transport Topics
Company Developing Truck Screening System
San Diego-based SAIC is working to adapt existing technology to inspect trucks and trailers at border checkpoints, Copley News Service reported.
The U.S. Customs Service is currently using two VCIS devices at its Otay Mesa border crossing in addition to an X-ray system made by American Science & Engineering. Both technologies have been successful in detecting contraband. Transport Topics
Pacer Reports Higher 3Q Revenues
Pacer International reported consolidated gross revenue of $398.1 million for the third quarter, which ended on Sept. 21. This is up $90.9 million, or 30% over the previous year.The company said its revenues in its retail segment, which handles logistics and supply-chain management, rose $105.8 million for the quarter. Revenues for the wholesale segment, which handles double-stack rail transport services, declined $1.2 million.
"Our third quarter results were in line with the third quarter of year 2000, which was a substantive improvement over our previous two quarters, indicating the progress we are making in the company,” said Don Orris, chairman and chief executive officer. “The economic downturn is still adversely affecting our results, especially the automotive business segments of our wholesale and retail divisions.” Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
UPS Tests Electric Hybrid in Fleet
United Parcel Service Inc. has been testing a truck with a hybrid diesel-electric engine in an effort to improve fuel efficiency, the company said Tuesday.The vehicle is being tested along a 31-mile route in Huntsville, Ala. Along that route, the Atlanta-based company said the truck is responsible for 158 locations.
"Our goal with this project is to significantly reduce exhaust emissions and increase fuel economy, improve mechanical and operational reliability and provide clean, efficient auxiliary power," UPS Chairman-elect Mike Eskew said. "Our overall objective is to lessen our imprint on the environment."
According to press materials, UPS, the world's largest express carrier and package delivery company, already operates the largest private fleet of compressed natural gas vehicles in the United States and has a total alternative fuel fleet of more than 1,800 vehicles. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
Pierce to Supply California With 56 Trucks
Pierce Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corp., a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks, will supply the U.S. Forest Service in California with 56 fire fighting vehicles.The order is worth $3.9 million and will be delivered by July 2002. The vehicles will be added to the 140 that are already protecting California's 18 national forests, the company said in a press release.
The order includes 31 tanker trucks and 25 Hawk wildland trucks. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
OPEC Could Cut Production by 6.5%
The secretary-general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said Monday that the oil cartel may cut crude oil production by 1.5 million barrels, or 6.5% a day, the New York Times reported.Ministers from the 11-nation cartel have a meeting scheduled for Nov. 14 to discuss a possible production cut. The group has cut crude oil production three times already in 2001, by a total of 3.5 million barrels per day.
The cartel, which produces 40% of the world's oil, wants to keep prices between $22 and $28 a barrel. It has been unable to do so as weak demand has kept prices falling, the Times said. Transport Topics
TPG Claims 12% Higher Profits in 3Q
TPG NV, the second-largest express package delivery company in Europe, said Monday that its profits rose by 12% in the third quarter.The company attributed the profit rise to acquisitions at its logistics unit. Overall, the company posted net income of 97 million euros ($87 million) or 20 cents per share.
The company expects full-year profits to increase as well, despite an increase in operating costs after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Transport Topics
Border Security Boosts Drug Seizures
Drug smugglers desperate for cash are testing heightened security at the U.S.-Mexico border and failing, the Washington Post reported.Before Sept. 11, the Post said, most vehicles were waved through border checkpoints. But now border officials are examining nearly every vehicle.
Spokesmen for the U.S. Customs Service told the Post that drug seizures fell 80%, compared with the previous year, in the two weeks following the terrorist attacks. However, since then seizures are up 58% along the Texas border and 394% in Arizona.
Smugglers, spokesmen said, are trying to make up lost profits by pushing more drugs across the border. Transport Topics
Mexico's Fox Says Economy Struggling
Mexican President Vicente Fox said Monday that his country's economy has not met original growth targets due to external factors such as the terrorist attacks on the United States, Reuters reported.If Mexican's economy slows, it could hurt the trucking companies that rely on cross-border trade for a portion of their overall business.
Mexico's central bank is now projecting that the nation's economy will not grow at all this year and will contract in the third quarter. In 2000, gross domestic product grew a 6.9%, but it began slowing at the end the year. Transport Topics
Post Offices, Buildings Reopen After Anthrax Threat
Several post offices and government buildings reopened on Tuesday after being declared safe from the anthrax threat, news services reported.In New York, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital reopened, six days after it was closed by the anthrax threat. At the Pentagon, officials said there was no indication that anthrax spores found in two postal boxes there had migrated to other parts of the military complex.
Still, the Postal Service said it could face increased costs and business losses totaling billions of dollars in the wake of the anthrax attacks, the Associated Press noted.
Meanwhile, a diplomatic mailbag sent from Washington to the U.S. consulate in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg tested positive for what was described as a negligible amount of anthrax spores. Transport Topics
Canada's Vitran Announces Higher 3Q Revenues
Vitran Corporation Inc. announced Tuesday that it had revenues of C$122.32 million (U.S. $76.72 million) in the third quarter of 2001. This is up from the C$120.59 (U.S. $75.63 million) the company posted for the same period last year.The Canadian transportation and logistics firm said it had achieved income of C$2.02 million or 21 cents per share, down from last year's C$3.23 million, or 33 cents per share. In U.S. dollars, the income would be $1.266 million.
The company's year-to-date revenue is C$363.17 million, (U.S. $227.71 million), up from C$358.04 million (U.S. $224.50) for the same nine-month period in 2000. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
