A.M. Executive Briefing - Aug. 10
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Hours-Of-Service Roundtable Schedule Released
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The schedule that has been released is as follows:
- Sept. 25-26 at the National 4-H Center, 7100 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Chevy Chase, Md., to discuss economic impact of the proposal, fatigue research, and enforcement;
- Sept. 28-29 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, N.W., Washington, D.C., to discuss sleeper berth requirements, communications during rest periods, weekend rest periods and hours of work permitted each day;
- Oct. 5-6 at the Marriott Wardman, where the talks will focus on the five different types of drivers, electronic on-board recorders and exemptions.
Late Wednesday, Department of Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater announced he had invited leaders from the trucking industry, labor unions and safety groups to participate in the roundtable discussions on the issue of driver fatigue and how to best update the hours-of-service rules.
The hearings could, more than likely, occur after Congress takes action on the Transportation Appropriations Bill. Some groups are hoping the discussion advance beyond FMCSA administrators taking down comment on the controversial plan aimed at reducing truck tractor accidents. John Wislocki, Transport Topics
DOT To Congress: Let Us Continue Hours-Of-Service Regulatory Process
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a release Wednesday, pleading with Congress to allow its hours-of-service rulemaking process to continue.The statement calls for the elimination of a provision in the Senate transportation-funding bill that would freeze funding for the regulatory process, accusing the trucking industry of using political clout to allow unsafe practices to continue.
"This [rulemaking] process, left alone, will lead to a balanced, effective and fair rule," the statement read. "However, many trucking industry interests seem opposed to reform. They prevailed upon their Congressional allies to place a provision in the Senate bill that would prevent the U.S. DOT from spending any funds to continue this 'or any similar rule making' - in short, shutting down the regulatory process. This is not a case of the U.S. DOT rushing a proposal to completion before the end of the Clinton Administration. This is raw use of political power by specific trucking interests to stop progress." Transport Topics
More Economic Signals Suggest No New Interest Rate Hikes Around Corner
A flurry of new signals about the U.S. economy all suggest that the Federal Reserve Board is unlikely to again raise interest rates any time soon, at least providing some stability in interest costs that have plagued many trucking companies.The Labor Department said Thursday that overall import prices were unchanged during July, although some of that was from a decline in oil prices that month while non-oil prices rose 0.3%, Bloomberg reported.
Meanwhile, Gary Stern, president of the Minneapolis regional Fed bank, told USA Today the economy is moderating with slowdowns in housing and consumer spending, while inflation is not a significant factor.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Fed released its latest survey of economic conditions from its 12 regions, the so-called beige book, and said seven of its regional banks saw signs that the economy was slowing. Transport Topics
'Super Bowl Of Safety' Opens In The Crescent City
While most of New Orleans was just waking up to an early morning rain shower Thursday, the 387 truck drivers who are competing in the National Truck Driving Championships were already sitting down for a breakfast pep rally prior to the start of the preliminary competitions.Over the next two days, the field of drivers who have won top honors in nine classes of trucks at the state level will be winnowed down to 27 finalists, who go head-to-head on Saturday.
"This is the Super Bowl of safety," NTDC Chairman Mark Darling told the crowd of more than 1,000 drivers and spouses as they ate scrambled eggs, muffins and chicory-laced coffee. "In an industry whose safety is often unfairly scrutinized, the championships are an opportunity to showcase our safest drivers."
To compete in the annual championships, drivers must have driven at least 12 months without an accident and won a state championship. Between them, the drivers gathered here have a combined 465 trillion accident-free miles, Darling said.
Also at the breakfast, drivers heard a videotaped speech by professional race car driver Jeremy Mayfield, who was injured in a NASCAR race last week and couldn't appear in person. Drivers then headed to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where they were to be judged on how they conducted a pre-trip inspection and drove through a six-problem obstacle course. David Barnes, Transport Topics
Bridgestone/Firestone Should Have Better Addressed Concerns, Analysts Say
Analysts said Bridgestone/Firestone should have addressed questions from consumers about their tires more quickly, the Associated Press reported Thursday.By waiting to respond to concerns from dealers and consumers, the company appeared to be acting under pressure from the federal government, the article said.
Many complained of feeling "in the dark" for several days until a recall of 6.5 million tires was announced Wednesday. Corporate-image experts told AP that Bridgestone/Firestone should have acted more quickly, citing the 1982 case in which seven deaths from cyanide-laced Tylenol were reported, and Johnson & Johnson immediately pulled the product from the shelves and worked to create tamper-proof packaging.
Three brands of Firestone tires have been recalled after numerous complaints of accidents, including 46 deaths, being linked to defects with the tires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the complaints. Transport Topics
Second Quarter Net Loss Reported By @Track Communications
Wireless communications provider @Track Communications reported Thursday that its second quarter financial results met company expectations.@Track reported a net loss of $3.6 million, or 14 cents per share, for the quarter, as well as an $11 million dip in revenues to $22.1 million.
"Second quarter financial results were in line with our expectations, and considerably improved from the first quarter, as we experienced strong growth in total revenues, solid product and service margins and continuing control of operating expenses," said company CEO Jana Ahlfinger Bell.
@Track Communications is the maker of Track Ware, which combines GPS satellite technology and wireless communications for mobile tracking. Transport Topics
Motor Cargo Inc. Adds To List Of Rate Increases
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The increase will affect base rates and minimum charges, and adjustments will be made to imbalanced lanes and high cost service areas, the company said. Contract rates expiring after Sept. 18 will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
The rate increase announcement follows several others this week, including Jevic, Daylight and American Freightways. Transport Topics
Standard Automotive Corp. Announces Increases In Recent Quarter
Standard Automotive Corp., whose products include trailer chassis for transporting maritime and railroad shipping containers, has announced increases in revenues and operating income for its fiscal first quarter.Revenues increased 12% to $39,134,000, while operating income increased 38% to a record $4,660,000.
The increases were attributed to product line expansion, the company said, and company CEO Steven Merker commented he was pleased with the results. Transport Topics
Pennsylvania Couple Killed When Tanker Runs Over Top Of Their Van In Florida
A Pennsylvania couple traveling Interstate 95 in Florida was killed Wednesday when a tanker truck carrying hydrogen peroxide hit them at full speed from behind, the Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday.The tanker sheared off the top of the couple's van and ran into a tractor-trailer, setting off a chain reaction which involved a total of six vehicles. The tanker's driver was listed in critical condition in a nearby hospital, while the driver of one of the cars suffered minor injuries, the article said.
The accident closed the southbound lanes of the interstate until nearly 4:30 a.m. Thursday, as the tanker was being monitored for fire hazard due to a small leak. Capt. Mike Inglett of the Volusia County Fire Services told Transport Topics "it's certainly the worst accident I've seen in my career." Transport Topics
Lawsuit Dismissed Against Trucker
A Wisconsin appeals court determined this week that a January 1995 accident was, in fact, just an accident.The Associated Press reported that the First District Court of Appeals in Madison, Wis., dismissed a lawsuit against trucker Andray Zhurbas, finding insufficient evidence that he was driving negligently when his truck hit a patch of ice and went over an embankment, knocking out a guardrail in the process.
William and Loretta Fischer, who were injured when their car also went over the embankment where the guardrail had been prior to Zhurbas' accident, had filed the lawsuit against the trucker, saying he had been driving negligently. A lower court had found some question as to whether or not Zhurbas was at fault in any way for the accident, but the appeals court ruled the lawsuit should have been dismissed, the article said. Transport Topics
Denver Residents Protest Over Unsafe Traffic Conditions
A group of 60 protesters gathered in Denver Wednesday to voice their concerns over a traffic problem they say the city is ignoring, the Associated Press reports.The protesters gathered near the intersection of Interstate 70 and Steele street, where 17-year-old Jonathan Flores was killed by a tractor-trailer in May. The group wants more safety features for the area, which sees a great deal of truck traffic, the article said.
A Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman told AP that a study is being conducted regarding solutions for the area's concerns. Transport Topics
