A.M. Executive Briefing - May 10
This Morning's Headlines:
ul>
Senate Passes Paid Family Leave Bill; Truck, Drug Conferences Start
With the Vermont Senate's passage of a family-leave bill that has kept the state legislature from adjourning, one of the matters lawmakers must still resolve is the difference between House and Senate bills changing the way diesel taxes are collected.The state presently adds only a portion of its diesel tax to the pump price and expects buyers to pay the rest directly, but legislation passed this year would add the entire levy to the pump price.
The state diesel tax will be used to cover additional truck-enforcement funding won by a legislator who opposed the successful bill to allow 72-foot trucks on some routes. Associated Press (05/10/00); Sneyd, Ross
State Trucking Industry Launches Self-Policing Safety-Certification Campaign
Responding to residents' concern about truck safety brought about by the Illinois bribes-for-licenses scandal, the Illinois Transportation Association has established a program to certify that carriers are safe, and all association members said they will participate.PrePass-screened carriers whose safety record is up to par will be able to put decals on their trucks bearing the words "Driven By Safety."
At the announcement of the program, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White expressed hope that the stickers will assure residents that safety is important to most commercial drivers.
State Police commander Col. Bill Davis supported the effort but said the police will not treat truckers with the stickers any differently from others. Associated Press (05/09/00); Lipman, Jonathan
Trucking Association President Says Regulations Will Hurt
Arkansas Trucking Association President Lane Kidd said productivity will drop 25% if federal regulators adopt the proposed hours-of-service rules.Kidd said the Bill of Rights, Gettysburg Address, and Ten Commandments are all under 500 words, but the HOS proposal is 76,460 words. He also pointed to statistics saying motorists, not truckers, were responsible for 80% of fatal truck crashes.
Trucks constitute 10% of vehicles on most highways, yet pay 40% of highway-maintenance taxes, he said. Associated Press (05/09/00); Lehourites, Chris
UPS Responds to Council of Canadians and CUPW
Following a Tuesday press conference held by the Council of Canadians, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, and Rural Dignity, a UPS Canada spokeswoman responded to statements made at the press conference regarding United Parcel Service's suit against Canada.The Nafta lawsuit does not regard the postal monopoly held by Canada Post, but is intended to bring about fair competition and accountability in services where Canada Post competes with private-sector businesses, said spokeswoman Susan Webb.
If UPS wins the suit, rural areas may have more access to courier services, since Canada Post does not allow postal outlets to offer private companies' courier products, UPS says. Canada NewsWire (05/09/00)
Union Members Await Word From National Labor Board
Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma Teamsters union members involved in a dispute with Associated Wholesale Grocers are waiting for a National Labor Relations Board ruling that could allow the union to resume negotiations with the grocery cooperative.AWG locked out Teamsters workers in Kansas City, Kan., and Springfield, Mo., in April when it outsourced trucking and warehouse operations in the two areas; some Teamsters in Oklahoma City began striking April 4 in support of the Kansas City and Springfield union members.
Jim Kabell, business manager of the union local in Springfield, was set to address the Oklahoma City union members Tuesday regarding the union's activity. Should the NLRB side with the Teamsters regarding the union's filing, its recommended settlement would probably include further bargaining. Associated Press (05/09/00)
Interstate 70 in Pennsylvania Sinking as Coal Mined Beneath Road
Interstate 70 in Washington County, Pa., has been sinking as much as a foot and a half during the night due to a Consol Energy coal mine underneath the highway; the mining started last week and will continue over the coming four weeks.Martin Rapsack of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation says drivers unfamiliar with the area – near the interchange with I-79 – "might not even notice" the sinking. Officials have cut the speed limit to 40 mph and may shut down the highway if needed. Dominion Post (Wheeling, W.Va.) Online (05/08/00)
© copyright 2000 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
