A.M. Executive Briefing - Mar. 9
This Morning's Headlines:
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TRALA Prepares for Leadership Transition
In order to avoid problems often associated with a change in management, Truck Renting and Leasing Association President and CEO Mike Payne has appointed Peter Vroom to the post of executive vice president, where Vroom will prepare to take over Payne's duties at the beginning of 2002.Vroom, who spent several years as TRALA vice president of government relations, returned to TRALA from Legislative Solutions, a lobbying and government-monitoring company he founded in 1997. He said that in the future, particularly with the rise of e-commerce, transportation managers will find renting and leasing an efficient means of transportation.
Its top policy priority is to end attempts by Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Mexico to charge small leasing companies for past fuel tax liability. It also wants states to be allowed to pass 97,000-pound maximum weight limits. Heavy Duty Trucking Online (03/09/00); Patton, Oliver B.
Regional Trucking Company Expands
The Wichita, Kan., division of the Nebraska-based regional LTL carrier Clark Bros. has outgrown its old location and moved into a new 16-door facility.Started close to four years ago, Clark's Wichita division has grown from three drivers to 17 and from four tractors to 16, having amassed over 2,500 customers. The 64-year-old, family-owned Clark saw over $50 million in 1999 freight revenue, hauling over 700 million pounds.
Wichita account executive Jeff Zogleman said Clark sees itself as competing with "almost anybody that has a truck these days." The Wichita division says it appeals to customers through its individual customer service and its 24- to 48-hour delivery times. Wichita Eagle Online (03/09/00); Pearce, Dennis
Planned Holding Lot for D.C. Bound Trucks Alarms Pr. George's
Plans to keep trucks bound for Washington, D.C.'s new Washington Convention Center at a lot in Prince George's County, Md., have caused anxiety among residents near the lot.Area residents have long requested, to no avail, that the county reduce truck traffic and speeding in their area by adding speed humps and traffic circles; the new plans will bring more trucks and exacerbate the residents' concern.
The lot is located near a high school, an apartment complex, and future elementary school's site. The plans are intended to resolve concerns of residents near the new convention center by avoiding the problem, seen at the current convention center, of exhaust fumes and congestion caused by trucks idling in nearby streets.
Transportation consultants predict two busy days per week bringing 150 trucks a day bound for the new center, which will open in 2003. On other days, truck traffic will be minimal, they say. Washington Post (03/09/00) P. B7; Montgomery, David
Missouri Truckers Call to Action; Say No to Senate Bill 1064
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is opposing state Sen. Joe Maxwell's bill, Senate Bill 1064, to institute a $10 increase in Missouri's top-weight truck license fee.Maxwell, who is running for Lieutenant Governor, says the state needs more money for cleaning up hazardous wastes; for that purpose, his legislation would give the Department of Natural Resources money from the highway trust fund. He says if a truck in an accident spills diesel fuel, the diesel is hazardous waste.
OOIDA says highway fees should fund highways only and raising truck taxes would constitute a hardship due to current high fuel prices. Land Line Magazine Online (03/09/00)
Rhode Island Considering Truck Emissions Tests
A Rhode Island state agency proposed adding large trucks and buses to its emissions testing program and raising the standards for the program, which began in January. An energy and environmental committee in the state legislature intends to hold hearings on the Department of Environmental Management's proposal. Heavy Duty Trucking Online (03/09/00)Port Hosts Talks to Discuss Complaints of Truck Drivers
Port of Houston officials, representatives of the trucking-company group Texas Intermodal Truckers Association, and port truckers met Tuesday to talk about the complaints that sparked a Teamsters-led drivers' rally last month. The transportation leaders, over 50 in all, vowed to find solutions to the drivers' issues.A union member said a Monday walkout planned by Local 988 was postponed for two weeks to allow time for further organizing; the postponement was unrelated to the Tuesday meeting, the member said. Tom Kornegay, the port's executive director, was unsure whether the walkout could be prevented, but those at the Tuesday meeting said raising driver productivity could increase their pay.
Officials said productivity could be increased by keeping privately-owned container yards open longer and operating them during lunch hours. They also said the issue of poor chassis maintenance could be solved if ship lines create a chassis pool. And the port said it would engage a consultant to look into boosting efficiency at container yards. Houston Chronicle (03/08/00) P. 3C; Moreno, Jenalia
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