A.M. Executive Briefing - Jan. 11
This Morning's Headlines:
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OOIDA Fuel Tax Suit Dismissed
A judge in Illinois dismissed a class action lawsuit from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association that challenged the state fuel tax on constitutional grounds.The group claimed that tolling authorities' annual reports demonstrate that Illinois tollways are able to pay for themselves, so levying a state fuel tax as well as charging tolls is double taxation if the fuel is used on tollways. Thus, the fuel tax should be refunded for tollway use, OOIDA argued.
Fourth Landslide Closes Santiam Pass Highway
The Santiam Pass Highway in Oregon was shut down Monday night by a landslide, and it was expected the road would remain shut down until morning Tuesday.A spokesman for the state Transportation Department said drivers should avoid the Santiam Pass or use other routes, such as U.S. 26 or Oregon 58.
Winter weather and resulting accidents also shut down portions of Interstate 84 in the state Monday. There are winter storm warnings for the Coast Range, Cascade Range, and Blue Mountains. Oregon Live Online (01/11/00)
Truck-Owners Block Frontiers for Second Day
A trucking company owners' blockade in France entered its second day on Tuesday, with the four key arteries blocked off along the Belgian border, where the protests are focused.The owners say their expenses will go up 25% on average due to a reduced work week planned by the country's socialist government, and they are also protesting the rise in diesel prices.
A Saint-Malo ferry terminal was blocked off, halting 37 trucks from Britain, while vehicles from Spain were being turned onto alternate routes as trucks continued to shut down the A63 roadway. The amount of roadblocks on the border with Germany was down from 24 Monday to 10 Tuesday, while a convoy of hundreds of trucks held up traffic on a central France road by driving slowly.
Truckers could also strike over the work week reduction in January or February because it might cut their pay. Agence France Presse (01/11/00)
Sale Likely of Sabre's Logistics Division
The Texas-based travel-reservation company Sabre was to announce Monday that an investor group led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology logistics expert Yossi Sheffi is buying most of the Sabre Logistics Group division. Sheffi is a transportation professor and heads the Center for Transportation Studies at MIT.Most of the assets in the sale were bought by Sabre in 1996 from PTGC, a logistics firm started by Sheffi. The purchase is being supported by $30 million from Internet Capital Group, which invests in business-to-business online marketplace developers. Fort Worth Star-Telegram Online (01/10/00); Reed, Dan
USFreightways Names Two to Corporate Sales Posts
Two corporate sales managers have been appointed at USFreightways. Jeff Lyskoski will be in charge of Arizona and southern California accounts, while Jace Colin's territory includes parts of Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Journal of Commerce (01/10/00)© copyright 2000 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
