Technology Briefs - Oct. 4 - Oct. 10

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The Latest Headlines:

• I-Pass Use Expands in Illinois
• J.J. Keller Offers Human Resources Web Program
• Lubricant Maker WD-40 Raises Earnings Guidance

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I-Pass Use Expands in Illinois

Drivers with I-PASS transponders, similar to E-ZPass, in Illinois can now cruise past toll booths in 11 states along the East Coast, the Associated Press reported.

Customers began paying tolls along the E-ZPass system using their current transponders Sept. 26, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority said.

The I-PASS system includes 21 agencies operating toll roads, bridges and tunnels in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and other Eastern states.

Commercial I-PASS users, in-cluding truckers, must exchange their current transponders for new ones compatible with the E-ZPass system. There is no charge to exchange the transponder, which can be done on the tollway authority’s Web site, AP reported. Transport Topics

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J.J. Keller Offers Human Resources Web Program

Trucking software provider J.J. Keller & Associates Inc. said it has introduced a new program to help companies improve their management of employees.

Gina Piarulli, a software engineer with J.J. Keller, said the Web-based Prospera program evaluates employees based on five key areas: staffing, compensation, employee reviews, development and planning.

Prospera also includes a library that covers more than 200 topics of interest to human resources departments.

“This area of the Web site also allows [users] from across the country to share their experiences on a variety of issues,” Piarulli said. Tarun Reddy

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Lubricant Maker WD-40 Raises Earnings Guidance

Lubricant maker WD-40 Co. on Friday raised its 2005 guidance 10 cents above the top end of an earlier estimate of per-share earnings and postponed its fourth-quarter financial report.

The San Diego company now expects full-year income to range from $1.55 to $1.65 per share. Earlier this year, the company had lowered its outlook range to $1.50 to $1.55 per share from a previous estimate of $1.62.

WD-40 said it needed more time to complete the quarterly earnings report to complete new internal audit controls. The company said it expects to post fourth-quarter results Nov. 7

The company also declared a quarterly dividend of 22 cents per share, payable on Oct. 28 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 17. Transport Topics

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