A.M. Executive Briefing - Feb. 25
This Morning's Headlines:
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Leading Trucker Faults Protests
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association executive vice president Todd Spencer criticized truckers' fuel-price protests that slowed traffic on highways between Dayton, Ohio, and Cincinnati Wednesday.Spencer said those who want to protest should "park your truck at the state capitol and talk to the lawmaker," adding that high fuel costs are "not other drivers' fault."
Dump Trucks Join Independent Truckers' Strike in Downtown Miami
Dump truck drivers drove slowly for three hours along Miami-area roads Thursday, including a drive through downtown Miami, ending up where independent truckers by the hundreds have been parked along the shoulder of Okeechobee Road.The wildcat strike of independent port drivers began Feb. 1, although port drivers started going back to work over the weekend. Eric Padron, of the Miami-Dade mayor's office, said the dump truck drivers think attention has focused on the port drivers' strike and not on the striking dump truckers, who want higher rates from truck brokers. Mayor Alex Penelas indicated willingness to serve as mediator between the drivers and brokers.
The Florida insurance commissioner's office is looking into truckers' complaints that they are forced to purchase high-priced insurance from brokers. A finding on that issue is expected by Tuesday or Wednesday, said Hosey Hernandez, lawyer for Support Trucking Group and Support Dump Trucking Group. Miami Herald (02/25/00); Whitefield, Mimi
Toll Change May Ease Bridge Jams
As part of efforts to reduce traffic jams at the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Ontario, tollbooths at entrances to the bridge will be eliminated and drivers will pay tolls after they have gone over the bridge, when they already have to stop for customs.Separate bridge exits from Interstates 75 and 76 on the Michigan side and doubling the amount of parking for trucks undergoing customs checks are also planned, as is a possible twin span that might be built by 2012.
Nafta, just-in-time delivery, and other factors have driven up trade crossing the bridge, which now handles some 29% of trade, by dollar amount, between the United States and Canada. Detroit News (02/24/00) P. D1; Puls, Mark
Truckers Receive Reprieve
Eleven truck drivers from Sangaree, S.C., have reached a deal with Berkeley County under which they will not have to obey the new county rule on truck parking in residential areas as they wait for their lawsuit against the county to be heard in court.The drivers agreed to give up their request for an injunction on enforcement of the rule, which goes into effect Wednesday; they asked for the injunction when the suit was filed last month.
In December, the county's fine for illegal truck parking in residential areas was raised to $500 from $200 and now complaints can be filed by anyone rather than being filed by three people living 1,000 feet or less from the truck driver.
While court officials said the case might not be heard for a year and a half, the county may reconsider its deal with the 11 truckers if it begins taking too long. Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier (02/24/00) P. B1; Wise, Warren
State Quietly Retested Truckers
Due to allegations of CDL-selling at the McCook licensing site, top aides in then-Illinois Secretary of State George Ryan's office in 1997 quietly ordered 42 truck drivers who had been licensed at McCook to retake examinations, internal documents say.However, during Ryan's successful 1998 gubernatorial campaign, he said several times that he did not have evidence that there was wrongdoing there, and he continues to say investigators in his office did not have enough evidence to substantiate the allegations. The documents, however, demonstrate top aides thought there was sufficient evidence to order retests.
According to a spokesman for current Secretary of State Jesse White, three of the 42 drivers passed their retests, five failed, 25 forfeited their CDLs, seven surrendered their CDLs and got regular licenses, and two no longer lived in Illinois.
A spokesman for Ryan said his 1998 campaign statements solely referred to potential criminal charges against people who worked there.
Internal investigators first heard of alleged exam-fixing at McCook from a truck driver in 1993, but that investigation was closed when the driver, who had leukemia, would not cooperate; a second McCook investigation started in 1996 after investigators received evidence from a pair of whistleblowers. Chicago Tribune Online (02/24/00); Cohen, Laurie; Marx, Gary
Missing Trucker Turns Up
Phoenix trucker Ron Kenshol, whose rig was found unlocked with keys in the ignition and apparent blood in the cab in Albuquerque Monday, turned up Wednesday morning after he called police, having seen himself on TV news. The trucker is suspected of embezzling appliances that were part of his cargo.Kenshol told police he "met up with the wrong crowd" in Albuquerque, and they started using crack cocaine; 20 television sets, 10 VCRs, and 25 microwaves totaling over $20,000 missing from the truck were sold for the drug, the driver said. However, Kenshol "can't quite remember how much help he gave in that area," said police spokesman John Walsh. Albuquerque Journal (02/24/00) P. D2; Jones, Jeff
Truck Driver Inhales Hazardous Chemical
Yellow Freight System driver James Sowers, of Zanesville, Ohio, was treated Wednesday for exposure to a hazardous chemical compound he was hauling. He smelled fumes from the benzoquinone and his throat began to burn when he entered the back of the truck while making a delivery to the Airport Commerce Park in Whitehall. Firefighters called to the scene did not find a leak in the barrels containing the compound. Columbus Dispatch (02/24/00) P. 3D© copyright 2000 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
