A.M. Executive Briefing - Jan. 26
This Morning's Headlines:
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FMCSA Still Has No Boss
The Transportation Department is having difficulty finding an administrator for the new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and it is running low on time for selecting candidates to be nominated by President Clinton. "It is not easy to get people to think about Senate-confirmed positions in theighth year of [a presidential] administration," said Deputy DOT Secretary Mortimer Downey.
Although the Office of Motor Carrier Safety was criticized for trucking-industry ties, Downey said the new administrator does not need to be free of links to the industry. Cirillo hopes to get clearance during the next month to seek candidates for other senior positions at FMCSA, including deputy administrator and associate administrators.
The agency is still concentrating on enforcing safety rules, as compliance reviews have increased 100%, fines have been hiked 85%, and backlog has been cut to 130 cases from 1,200 all in the last nine months, Cirillo said.
She is focusing on CDL program improvements and is also emphasizing increasing the amount of states in the PRISM program and creating a better process for trucker medical certifications. Other FMCSA initiatives include one to recruit young truck drivers and another to test safety technologies. Heavy Duty Trucking Online (01/26/00) ; Patton, Oliver B.
House OKs Bill on Trucks' Speed
A bill in Arizona to impose a 65 mph maximum truck speed limit and keep trucks in the right two lanes of six-lane freeways passed the state House Tuesday. The bill, which now goes on to the Senate, was backed by the Arizona Motor Transport Association and by the American Automobile Association of Arizona. Arizona Republic Online (01/26/00)Interstate Trucker is Arrested on Drug Charges
Virginia State Police said they discovered eight pounds of cocaine in the cab of a semi after pulling the trucker over on Interstate 66 for breaking the speed limit by nearly 20 mph.According to a police spokeswoman, driver George Lynch, 59, of Jersey City, N.J., also gave troopers a stolen license. The license's owner said several tickets had been posted to it along the East Coast since it was stolen three months ago and that no other law-enforcement agency had noticed it was stolen, according to the spokeswoman. The truck was hauling tomatoes to New York City from Arizona.
Lynch was arrested on eight charges including possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Washington Post (01/26/00) P. V3; White, Josh
Turnpike Tolls to Increase Up to 37% by 2003
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority Tuesday passed a toll hike that will increase truck fares as much as 26% by 2003, although the hike will be only 16% for those using the E-ZPass system.Gov. Christie Whitman, saying the toll increases for motorists and truckers will bring needed revenue to the authority, also approved the plan. The initial toll increase will go into effect as soon as E-ZPass is installed, which could happen this spring, or on Jan. 1 if the system is not installed by then.
The New Jersey Motor Truck Association backed the plan due to the E-ZPass savings and the need for road improvements. The plan also makes New Jersey the first state in the region to alter tolls depending on time of day. Associated Press (01/25/00); Westfeldt, Amy
Lawmaker Says Issue of Cleaner Diesel Fuel Won't Go Away
Arizona state House Environmental Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Allen said her proposed requirement of clean diesel in the state would not survive a vote now but that the issue will endure. Residents want cleaner air and will not wait until a planned federal requirement goes into effect by 2007, she said.Although environmental regulators backed the bill, trucking and other business representatives said less-polluting trucks made the proposal unnecessary and that it was too expensive.
Dave Berry of Swift Transportation said it is "the worst 20% [of trucks] that's causing 80% of the problem" and that those trucks should be targeted. But some businesses backed the bill because it said the clean-fuel requirement could help keep the federal government from hitting the Phoenix area with sanctions.
Rural members of the Environmental Committee made up a great deal of the opposition, although Allen said she likely would attempt an amendment limiting the proposal to Maricopa County. Associated Press (01/25/00) ; Davenport, Paul
Drivers' Union Urges Caution
The Amalgamated Workers' Union, which represents truck drivers in New Zealand, is urging truckers there to be cautious about recruiters offering U.S. jobs. The warning comes after New Zealanders and Australians were indicted last year on accusations that they smuggled New Zealand truckers into the United States illegally.A recruitment company in Australia advertised for drivers in Christchurch, New Zealand, over the weekend and received a strong response. Annette O'Donnell, of the recruitment company, said hers is an above-the-board operation seeking drivers for an Arkansas carrier. The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has okayed 15 work visas, but the drivers must abide by a number of conditions, O'Donnell said.
Trevor Woolston of New Zealand Truck and Driver Magazine cautioned drivers to look for recruiters offering proper U.S. work permits rather than visitor or holiday permits. The Press (Christchurch, New Zealand) (01/25/00) P. 2; Yvonne, Martin
Injured Trucker Loses in Bid to Get Workers Compensation
Overturning a lower judge's decision, a Wisconsin appeals court Tuesday ruled that trucker John Jarrett was an independent contractor for B&D Motors rather than an employee and thus is ineligible for workers' compensation.In 1994, Jarrett sustained permanent injuries to the back and shoulders while on the road in his rig. The state Labor and Industry Review Commission denied Jarrett benefits on the grounds that he was an independent, but a Lincoln County circuit judge ruled he was an employee.
A 1994 law, supposed to be the test for deciding independent contractor status, was clarified by the appeals court as it overturned the circuit judge's ruling. Associated Press (01/25/00); Imrie, Robert
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