P.M. Executive Briefing - June 27
This Afternoon's Headlines:
ul>
California Truckers Convoy to Support EPA Standards
California Trucking Association member companies staged a brief convoy around a downtown Los Angeles hotel Tuesday in a show of support for the Environmental Protection Agency's recently proposed diesel emission standards.The demonstration was held shortly before an EPA public hearing at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where auto manufacturers and environmentalist were to join forces with CTA officials to support the standards that call for a reduction in diesel fuel's sulfur level by 2006. Where many in the trucking industry, including the American Trucking Associations, have opposed the EPA proposal, California trucking companies are in favor of it.
Truckers Steering Clear of Illinois Fuel Pumps
While Illinois' diesel prices have dropped somewhat recently, owner-operator James Settles is still trying to refuel in other states, where a tank of diesel can cost as much as $50 less. Illinois' Arrowhead Shell Oasis has seen profits cut in half since the fuel costs started rising last year; general manager Dennis Bowen says truck drivers are "shopping around more than they have in the past."Owner-operators are increasingly being pushed out of the business by the fuel costs. The number of used trucks for sale on the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Web site has increased to 85 now from just 10 last month, largely because of repossessions. Not only that, says OOIDA's John Siebert, but the glut of used trucks has driven prices down between 30% and 35%. Daily Southtown Online (06/27/00)
Crain's Says NYC Congestion Costs $8.3 Billion
Truckers having to deal with congestion in and around New York City already knew that the lost time was lost money, but Crains's New York Business publication has pegged the cost to businesses and consumers at a whopping $8.3 billion a year. Much of that, of course, is lost business productivity, Crain's says.That comes in various forms, such as trucks being able to make fewer trips, and therefore more trucks and crews are required to handle the total freight movements.
The strong economy has made the congestion worse, since it has meant more vehicles entering Manhattan daily, and cut the average speed on those already slow cross-town streets. Transport Topics staff
Triple-A Urging July 4 Road-Share Safety Trucks, Cars
Known for how to help get car drivers where they are going over the road, or helping out if the vehicle breaks down, AAA is launching a "Share With Care Day" series of demonstrations in 50 cities around the country to promote truck and car safety over the July 4 holiday. The idea is to get both types of drivers more focused on how to share the road safely.For instance, the safety program in Alexandria, Va. – just outside Washington D.C. along the heavily traveled Interstate 95 corridor – includes a live truck/car demo with representatives from United Parcel Service and a Virginia state trooper, to be held Thursday. Others particpating include the American Automobile Association's chief of traffic safety and AAA's regional governmental relations director. Transport Topics staff
Regional LTLs Try Out Safety-Enhancing Technoogy, Ideas
Several regional LTLs are participating in truck-safety xperimentation. Pitt Ohio Express, with federal funding, has been testing the Operator Alertness System, created by Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Engineering Consortium, which checks for fatigue using two small video cameras that monitor the driver's eyelid closure rate. This information is displayed visually, and a driver found to be fatigued is alerted by an alarm.Pitt Ohio is also testing the an actigraph wristwatch, created at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, that uses wrist activity to gauge driver fatigue; the Howard Power Center Steering, a hydraulic steering system; and a system to monitor lane changes.
Meanwhile, New England Motor Freight rewards its safe drivers with savings bonds and has ordered more than 200 automatic-transmission trucks. G.I. Trucking uses three radar-equipped Ford Explorers to check up on how fast company trucks are being driven – the company restricts them from exceeding 55 mph. The roving safety units also assist in inspections and have response kits for hazmat emergencies. Traffic World (06/26/00) Vol. 262, No. 13; P. 27; Schulz, John D.
Federal Goal to Reduce Fatalities Means Increase in DOT Enforcement
Steve Barber, director of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Office of Enforcement and Compliance, told the National Tank Truck Carriers Safety Council meeting that the government's goal to halve truck-crash deaths over the next decade will cause regulation enforcement to be stepped up 37% and enhanced penalties to be stepped up 52%.The FMCSA will study new companies' safety risks when they apply for DOT registration. Carriers may review their DOT company profiles and appeal them if they are incorrect, Barber said. He believes the idea of a nationwide driver-record database may violate privacy laws, but states may be able to communicate enough to avoid giving out multiple licenses.
NTTC President Cliff Harvison said proposed changes to regulations would affect cargo-tank inspection, testing, maintenance, and repairs. Those proposals include third-party inspection of tank repair and manufacturing; mandatory overturn protection devices installed on petroleum, acid, and stainless steel multi-compartment tankers; and more loading/unloading training and documentation for MC306/DOT406 trailers.
Hart Industries President Kip Hart talked about the HM-225A regulation, effective last July, that requires inspection of discharge systems prior to tank unloading as well as passive-shutdown and remote-control-shutdown emergency discharge control equipment. Modern Bulk Transporter (06/00) Vol. 62, No. 12; P. 43
Compiled by Transport Topics staff and INFORMATION, INC. © 2000
