A.M. Executive Briefing - Jan. 21
This Morning's Headlines:
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Ryder System Works With Job Corps on Mechanic Program
Ryder System will join with the federal Labor Department's Job Corps training program to teach students about commercial-vehicle maintenance. The three-phase program will start with truck-maintenance technician training, followed by working with Ryder customers. Finally, students will apprentice as diesel mechanic specialists. Miami Herald (1/21/00)Samsung Confirms Talks With Renault Truck Unit
A spokesman for Samsung Group confirmed that the South Korean conglomerate is in talks with Renault Vehicules Industriels about selling a stake in Samsung Commercial Vehicles to the French heavy-vehicle maker. However, no concrete terms and conditions regarding a potential Renault acquisition of Samsung Commercial Vehicles have been discussed, the spokesman said. Agence France Presse (01/21/00)
Gas Tax Ballot Measure Effects Mixed for Trucks
According to a legislative report, the Oregon ballot measure that would raise the gas tax and institute a diesel tax, while scrapping trucks' weight-distance tax, will cause truckers to pay more than their share of road wear.The report from the Legislative Revenue Office said trucks in the 78,000-to-80,000 pound weight class would pay $8 million more than the state's road-coast benchmark. By 2005, the cost for freight trucks in general would be $67 million higher.
The Oregon-Idaho American Automobile Association, which got the measure on the ballot after it was passed by the state legislature, has said trucks would get a hefty tax break. AAA Lobbyist Craig Campbell said previous legislative estimates predicted trucks would pay up to $50 million less than the fair share.
However, Pat McCormick, manager of the campaign backing the measure, said the AAA's arguments are rendered less effective by the new legislative report. He also said the trucking industry supports the measure even though, as the AAA argues, some small truck operators would have to pay higher taxes and license fees. Associated Press (01/20/00); Beggs, Charles E.
Roanoke Lawyer's Unique Effort to Make I-81 Safer Meets Block
Virginia Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Messitt has recommended that Roanoke Circuit Court dismiss a Roanoke lawyer's lawsuit that calls Interstate 81 a public safety emergency. Litigant Richard Lawrence wants a judge to lower the truck speed limit and order such possible steps as more lanes and police patrols.Messitt's letter recommending dismissal, the first state response to the lawsuit, says the state legislature has given the state Transportation Department and Department of Motor Vehicles the duty of designing and maintaining highways. Therefore, the courts cannot give orders to those two departments, unless the suit claims improper conduct or "manifest fraud" on the state's part, the letter says. The state also says sovereign immunity protects the departments, which are named as defendants in Lawrence's lawsuit.
If the suit is not dismissed, Lawrence is looking for hearings in which highway officials will discuss their I-81 safety plans under oath. Roanoke Times (01/20/00) P. B3; Hammack, Laurence
DOE Cooperating With States to Identify Shipment Routes
At a Thursday meeting in Denver, Western Governors Association official Ron Ross said the U.S. Department of Energy will cooperate with western states to find safe routes for nuclear waste that will be shipped to a Nevada burial site.An estimated 70,000 tons of waste will be sent to the Yucca Mountain site, said a November draft environmental impact statement. This has caused Colorado state and local officials to be concerned about the amount of waste shipments that could use Interstate 70, the route currently under study by DOE. The department is looking at this route because it is fairly short, even though Colorado prohibits nuclear-waste shipments on the interstate because of curves and steep hills.
Capt. Allan Turner, who directs the hazardous material unit of the Colorado State Patrol, said states require tough inspections of trucks that haul nuclear waste. Along with Wyoming and New Mexico officials, Turner is working on finding a route other than I-70.
States are unable to interfere with nuclear waste shipments because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that they constitute interstate commerce, said Ross. The Denver meeting included staffers of the state governor and one of its congressional representatives. Associated Press (01/20/00); Sarche, Jon
Hustling Commuters Could Be Freed from Dodging Big Trucks
Arizona is one of several states whose legislatures are eyeing proposals restricting trucks' lane usage. Senate Bill 1211 would keep vehicles with trailers or with more than two axles out of the far left lane of a road with at least three lanes in one direction.House Bill 2256 would restrict vehicles of 26,000 pounds GVW or more, or those with a 6,000-pound or more pole trailer, to the right lanes of state highways and allow speed limits no higher than 65 mph for such vehicles. The house bill would allow the vehicles to move out of the right lane only if passing.
The proposals would make it tougher and more time-consuming to make deliveries, possibly driving up retail prices, Arizona truckers say. The difficulties truckers face in traffic would only worsen if truckers are kept in the right lane and cannot avoid traffic jams, says Beneto terminal manager Boyd Brown. At the head of the legislative efforts is Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Sen. Keith Bee (R-Tucson), who cited the frustration of being a rush-hour commuter caught behind a slow-moving truck. That frustration could lead to aggressive driving, he said. Associated Press (01/20/00); Thomsen, Scott
Haldex Consolidates Commercial Vehicle Brake Business
Haldex Midland Services Division, which was created when Haldex acquired Midland-Grau in 1998, is to be consolidated into the Haldex Brake Systems Division. Haldex Midland Services is in charge of Haldex commercial brake products' North American aftermarket. Land Line Magazine Online (01/20/00)© copyright 2000 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
