A.M. Executive Briefing - Jan. 13
This Morning's Headlines:
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Teamsters Chief Leads Rally to Revive Trucking Strike
Teamsters President James P. Hoffa on Wednesday led a Kansas City, Mo., rally and took part in a picket line in Kansas City, Kan., to pump new life into the Overnite Transportation strike. Hoffa drew cheers from the crowd at the Kansas City, Mo., union hall by saying the union would continue the strike "as long as it takes."The union is having a harder time making the public aware of its dispute with Overnite than it did in 1997 with its strike of United Parcel Service. Hoffa put the amount of Overnite employees striking at roughly 1,000, and the carrier says it is 760, while the UPS strike had 185,000 participants across the country.
Food Supplier Flips Over Burger Heist
A man with a refrigerated semi stole $43,000 worth of hamburger patties Dec. 30 from Golden State Foods in Conyers, Ga., by claiming to be a contractor for the brokerage American Transportation Systems.Golden State employees believed his paperwork was legitimate and did not realize there was a problem until the company received a call from the brokerage Monday regarding an order. American Transportation Systems, of Tucker, Ga., was the victim in the crime, said Rockdale County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Myra Pearrell. Atlanta Journal-Constitution (01/13/00) P. 8C; Nurse, Doug
Truck Driver Loses Appeal for Workers Compensation
Upholding a lower court decision, the Iowa Court of Appeals decided Wednesday that Iowa trucker Robert Marshall had been using marijuana prior to a 1994 accident and so did not deserve workers compensation.The trucker was working for Jensen Transport when his truck went into a ditch and trapped him, leading to a 10-day hospital stay. Marijuana was found in his system by a routine urinalysis.
In denying workers comp, the state industrial commissioner decided Marshall's driving was impaired by the drug, a decision backed by a district court. The trucker argued that intoxication had not been proven by his employer, but in making its decision the appeals court cited a statement about drug use Marshall made to a nurse as well as evidence found in his truck. Associated Press (01/12/00) ; Pitt, David
Government Says Let Whistles Blow
Responding to the rate of injuries and fatalities in rail crossing accidents, the Federal Railroad Administration Wednesday proposed to require that train horns be used at the crossings.Close to 250 communities across the country have prohibited the whistles due to the noise, but FRA Administrator Jolene Molitoris said crossings with lights and gates see a 62% rise in collisions when the warning sounds are banned. The FRA proposal would allow "quiet zones" to be established if certain safety measures are enacted, with lights and crossings gates as a minimum standard.
Communities could increase their chances of quiet zone approval if they add barriers to keep drivers from going around the gates or put in cameras to catch scofflaws. Federal and state funding would be available for such improvements, and there would be a restriction on the horns' volume.
There is already opposition springing up in various parts of the country, where public hearings will take place in the spring. Public comment is being taken by FRA until May 26. Boston Globe Online (01/12/00) ; Reichmann, Deb
Tap Zee Toll Hike May Fund New Bridge
An Interstate 287 task force appointed by New York Gov. George Pataki recommended a toll hike for the Tappan Zee Bridge during morning rush hour.Traffic during the morning rush dropped roughly 10% since truck tolls were hiked in 1998. The task force wants to reduce morning congestion by establishing peak and off-peak tolls.
The state plan also proposes a $4 billion replacement for the bridge, which could go into service between 10 and 20 years and include space for a planned Metro-North rail extension running from Westchester to New York City. New York Post (01/12/00) P. 24; Campanile, Carl
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