A.M. Executive Briefing - Mar. 3
This Morning's Headlines:
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Brussels Juggernaut Hits Volvo Head On
With the European Commission apparently about to deny Volvo's attempt to take over rival Swedish truckmaker Scania, Volvo's commercial vehicle strategy could be threatened along with the credibility of managers who talked investors into allowing Volvo to sell its car unit to Ford.Although Volvo said Thursday it was still working with the EC on a compromise, competition commissioner Mario Monti is reportedly unhappy with Volvo's proposed concessions. Should the takeover bid be blocked, Volvo will need to do some quick damage control, such as pursuing other manufacturers like Navistar or MAN and a possible strengthening of commercial-vehicle joint venture partner Mitsubishi Motors.
In addition, if the Volvo-Scania deal is blocked and Scania shares fall to where they were when Volvo first became interested in a merger, Volvo would have to sell its Scania stake at a loss. Financial Times (03/03/00) P. 34; Burt, Tim; George, Nicholas
Raufoss to Supply Volvo With Gas Tanks for Trucks, Buses
Volvo commercial vehicles will be supplied with composite compressed natural gas tanks from Raufoss ASA this year, and Raufoss is looking into further Volvo projects, Raufoss said. AFX.COM (03/03/00)Attempts to Sideline Truckers Stall
Although Tennessee's truck crash and fatality rate has dropped despite an increase in miles traveled, motorists are still concerned about having trucks on the road and many constantly ask lawmakers to make trucks keep to the right on interstates.Two bills to that effect were killed Wednesday in the General Assembly, as has happened to such legislation for the last five legislative sessions.
As studies of the safety benefits of keeping trucks in the right lane have produced inconsistent results, both opponents and supporters of such bills claim to be on the side of safety. Although state Senate transportation committee chairman Tommy Haun said all interstate traffic would be in one lane most places and would delay deliveries, officials in California, Illinois, Florida, and Georgia said the idea works on their roads.
According to engineer Dick McCasland, the idea is most suited to highways with several lanes, and the sponsors of one of this year's Tennessee bills said next year he may change the bill to reflect that.
Another problem with keeping trucks in the right lane is that the trucks would create a "wall" in the right lane blocking traffic from entering and exiting the road, some say. But some motorists say it would keep trucks out of their way, and one truck driver said trucks should be in the right lane anyway unless passing, so any lane-restriction bill should enable truckers to pass in other lanes. Nashville Tennessean (03/02/00) P. 1A; Klausnitzer, Dorren
Republicans Ask Vilsack to Help Ease Fuel Burden on Trucking Companies
Responding to rising diesel prices, Iowa Republicans Thursday requested that Gov. Tom Vilsack raise the truck weight limit to 90,000 pounds to allow each truck to carry more freight, thus saving fuel and ease consumer price increases. They propose that the increase in the weight limit would end after four months or after fuel prices go down.They also said small businesses would be helped by the measure, citing Iowa Motor Truck Association figures saying four-fifths of trucking firms have no more than six trucks.
The governor responded that raising the weight limit would need to compromise between lowering prices and resisting road wear. Legislation to increase the weight limit in phases may also be introduced. Associated Press (03/02/00); Thomas, Ken
KSP Uncovers Truck 'Chop Shops'
State and federal authorities are zeroing in on a truck theft ring after raiding two "chop shops" in Letcher County, Ky., in the past week and another in Pike County in 1999.Between $500,000 and $750,000 in stolen vehicles and equipment were found in a warehouse in Colson Monday, and parts of as many as 25 trucks, including buried cabs, were found at a disused strip mine Feb. 24. The vehicles are from several states, and a notable rise in truck thefts has happened in the past two years. Investigators know who the perpetrators are, and they will likely be tried in federal court, said a state police detective.
The large population of semis and truckers and Kentucky's relatively weak rules on rebuilt vehicles make Eastern Kentucky attractive to theft rings and parts dealers, he said. Lexington Herald-Leader (03/02/00) P. D1
HP In Brief: Substituting Natural Gas for Diesel in Heavy-Duty Vehicles Lowers Health Risks
A Gas Research Institute (GRI)-sponsored analysis of 40 transportation fuel studies has led the agency to believe that substituting natural gas for diesel fuel results in big health and environmental gains, especially in cities.GRI says that even the recent "clean-diesel" technologies cannot compare to the cleanliness of natural gas vehicles. In fact, according to some research, clean-diesel transit buses still have 80 times the nitrogen-oxide emissions and 60 times the particulate-matter emissions of gasoline-powered vehicles. Hydrocarbon Processing (02/00) Vol. 79, No. 2; P. 9; Weirauch, Wendy
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