P.M. Executive Briefing - July 12
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Roadway Express Gets $28-Million Shipping Yard Approved In Calif.
Roadway Express Inc. won approval Tuesday night for its $28-million shipping yard project on the west-end of San Bernardino County, Calif.To make the project more palatable to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, Roadway agreed to have all the switching vehicles run on alternative fuels. County officials felt it would be diesel-powered switching vehicles that would have the most negative impact on air quality in the area, and not the trucks.
"Some of the residents didn't like it," said Dave Wert, the county spokesman. "But it's a perfect fit for the zoning and it would be a good economic generator. That's what it came down to."
pposition to the project came mostly from the local school district, where officials were concerned about having more truck traffic around nearby schools. Transport Topics
Truckers Threaten Blockade Down Under
Where independent truckers from the northeast carefully orchestrated a demonstration in Washington, D.C. in February, drivers in Australia are talking national blockade.The Australian Associated Press reported Wednesday that major highways may be tied up this weekend if the Truck Owner-Drivers Association follows through with its threat. Similar to the U.S. independent truckers who assembled at the Capitol to draw attention to rising diesel prices, Australian drivers are upset about more than fuel costs.
Cuts in owner-driver freight rates and pressure to develop a code of conduct for the industry has drivers disillusioned, the AAP reported. Transport Topics
ARA Secures Regulatory Relief for Some Auto Parts Recycling
The Automotive Recyclers Association of Fairfax, Va. said Wednesday the U.S. Department of Transportation has granted its request for a regulatory exemption, to allow the commercial transportation of a "recycled" air bag module or seat belt pre-tensioner without marking an EX number or product code on the hazardous material shipping paper.That means ARA's exemption is now acceptable throughout the shipping industry whether by motor vehicle, rail freight, cargo vessel or cargo aircraft. ARA said the need to modify ARA's original exemption to allow for rail freight and cargo vessel was based on a technicality.
The previous exemption did not allow shippers to accept recycled air bags if the company used rail freight to transport their trucks during the shipping process. The United Parcel Service along with other shippers will once again accept recycled air bag shipments under ARA's exemption, ARA said. It added that the change will also benefit the United Recyclers Group, Kentucky Auto & Truck Recyclers Association and the State of California Auto Dismantlers Association who have been previously granted "party status" to ARA's exemption. Transport Topics
Maker of Hush Puppies Closing Plants in Five Cities
Truckers who supply materials or haul finished products for Rockford, Mich.,-based Wolverine World Wide Inc., the maker of Hush Puppies shoes, will be adjusting to news Wednesday that the company plans to close factories in five North American cities.The Associated Press reports that Wolverine will also cut 1,400 jobs 25% of its work force. In coming months Wolverine will close factories in Malone, N.Y.; Kirksville, Mo.; Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Ontario, Canada.
olverine makes a variety of footwear plus outdoor apparel and accessories. The cuts will curb inventories, and in turn that is expected to strengthen profit margins and free up additional money to support marketing of company's brands. Transport Topics
Forbes Announces 'Best Of The Web' List
Forbes Magazine has announced its "Best of the Web" list, a designation highlighting business-to-business e-commerce sites by industry.Companies were judged on a variety of factors, including strength of strategy, execution capabilities, financial staying power and web site. Forbes' web site offers editorial commentary on each selection.
In the "Logistics and Transportation" category, the following companies made the list: 2000Logistics, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Celarix,
learCross, Electron Economy, FreightDesk.com, FreightMatrix.com, Freightquote.com, FreightWise, GoCargo.com, GOwarehouse, Logistics.com, National Transportation Exchange, Prophet 21, QuoteShip.com, RightFreight.com, Roadway Express, Shiplogix.com, TranShopNet.com and TrucktireXchange.com. Transport Topics
Daylight Transport and Truckinguniverse.com Debut New Web Sites
The trucking industry moves further onto the information superhighway with the recent launch of two new Web sites: Daylight Transport, www.dylt.com and Truckinguniverse.com, an Internet Service Provider portal site.Along with basic company information such as rate quotes, customer service, corporate news and contact information, Daylight's Web site also offers two unique features: online account and credit setup. Pickups can be scheduled online and all requests will receive email confirmation, the company said in the announcement. Daylight Transport is a privately owned less-than-truckload carrier with headquarters in Long Beach, Calif.
Truckinguniverse.com is a joint project between Spectra Inc. and Galaxy Online Inc. that aims to provide information and shopping in one, easy-to-navigate stop. The site will include both general news and industry information. Transport Topics
Funeral Held For Bee Line Trucking Owner
A funeral Mass was held Wednesday in the St. Louis area for Henry "Hank" Slay, the owner and president of the Bee Line Trucking Co., the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.Mr. Slay, an Affton, Mo. resident, was 71. He died on Sunday in a Creve Coeur, Mo. Hospital following emergency surgery.
The St. Louis native served in the Army during the Korean War and was involved in the St. Louis area with fund-raising for churches, schools and charitable organizations.
He is survived by his wife Virginia L. Slay, two daughters, one son and one grandson. Transport Topics
Trucker USF Keeps Growing its Asian Forwarding Network
USF Worldwide, the Itasca, Ill-based global freight forwarding subsidiary of USFreightways, said Wednesday it has opened six new offices in four Asian countries.Through its joint venture ownership in USF Asia Group, USF Worldwide recently opened offices in Manila, Philippines; Seoul, South Korea; Bangkok, Thailand; Johore Bahru, Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Malaysia.
That makes a total of 18 USF offices in the region, including those in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. As a unit of USF Worldwide Logistics, USF Worldwide provides domestic and international freight forwarding services. Parent USFreightways also provides regional less-than-truckload transportation, and regional and national truckload transportation. Transport Topics
