A.M. Executive Briefing - Aug. 17
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OPEC Oil Production Won't Rise Soon But Crude Prices Do
The price of crude oil rose more than 2% Thursday after OPEC President Ali Rodriguez said the cartel is not likely to increase output before its September meeting, Bloomberg reports.The announcement further raises concerns over U.S. inventories, which despite a 1.2% rise last week to 288.8 million barrels are still 10% below last year's levels, the article reported. Those levels being down as winter and the heating oil demand approaches could mean diesel price spikes for the trucking industry.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude oil rose 40 cents at $32.20 a barrel; on London's International Petroleum Exchange, prices rose as much as 68 cents to $30.42 a barrel, Bloomberg reported. Transport Topics
DCH Technology Gives Presentation On Enable Fuel Cell
Hydrogen fuel cell developer DCH Technology's subsidiary, Enable Fuel Cells Corp., has developed a personal/portable fuel cell that was featured in a presentation to the U.S. Army Tank, Automotive, and Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren, Mich., DCH announced Thursday.The presentation discussed fuel cells and other alternative technologies that have the potential for use in heavy-duty trucks. These technologies could increase the vehicles' fuel economy to three times their current levels, a company spokesman said.
Freightliner, Ford and Navistar are part of a consortium with TACOM that is developing a "21st Century Truck" using such technology. Transport Topics
New Jersey Group Wants Municipal Police To Enforce Truck Laws
The Tri-State Transportation Group, a New York-based transportation "watchdog" organization, called for municipal police to be able to enforce a Trenton, N.J., ban on tractor-trailers, the Associated Press reported Thursday.Currently, only state police are allowed to stop trucks for inspections and to cite them for violations. The group wants local police to also be allowed to enforce the ban on large trucks because those officers know the roads and limits better, a resident told AP.
The Tri-State Transportation Group also wants New Jersey to ban trucks narrower than 102 inches, the article said. The American Trucking Associations has filed a lawsuit challenging the ban, saying it violates the Interstate Commerce clause of the Constitution. Transport Topics
'Operation Asphalt Assault' Targets Speeders, Those Failing To Buckle Up
State and local police in Washtenaw County, Mich. have launched "Operation Asphalt Assault" to crack down on drivers who speed and don't wear seat belts, with particular attention paid to truckers, the Detroit News reported Wednesday.All motorists will face a "Zero Tolerance" approach from officers with regards to speeding, seat belts and drunk driving. Police will patrol areas of Interstate 94, U.S. 23 and Michigan State Route 14 at varying times, a state police officer told the newspaper. Transport Topics
Massachusetts Begins Recruiting Diesel Emissions Testers
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Registry of Motor Vehicles announced Wednesday they will recruit diesel emissions testers.In conjunction with Keating Technologies, Massachusetts will provide equipment and training for businesses interested in becoming public inspection stations for light- or heavy-duty diesel vehicles, mobile inspectors for heavy vehicles, or who want to be licensed "self-testers" for their own diesel fleets.
The state will begin annual emissions testing for diesel-powered vehicles on Jan. 1, becoming only the second northeastern state to implement such a program. The emissions testings are aimed at removing 120 tons of air pollution each day, since 40% of Massachusetts' air pollution comes from vehicles. Transport Topics
Commercial Vehicle Sales Drop In Germany
The decline in commercial truck sales has not only hit North American but Germany as well, where figures show a 3% drop, Bloomberg reported Thursday.German truck sales in July dropped to 24,700 vehicles. However, exports increased 15%, as France, Poland and Turkey in particular are purchasing more German trucks, the article said.
A USA Today report last month said heavy-truck sales in the United States dropped 6.5% in the first half of this year, and are not expected to rebound any time soon. Production is slowing in North American plants and several truck makers – including Freightliner and Navistar – are laying off workers. Transport Topics
