A.M. Executive Briefing - May 18
This Morning's Headlines:
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Omnitracs Says Mexico Less Risky
Omnitracs CEO Flavio Mansi says the cargo-theft situation in Mexico, while still risky, is showing signs of improvement; the company, a unit of Qualcomm, says that the monthly number of theft reports it gets has remained about the same even as its client base has grown by half in the past three years.The Federal Preventive Police, or PFP, says cargo theft in Mexico dropped 40% between 1998 and 1999, and the worst rates are in Jalisco, Queretero, Sinaloa, and Mexico City. Mexico's Policia Federal de Caminos is being merged into the PFP, which presently has jurisdiction over the highways but is able to go into urban areas as well. Journal of Commerce (05/18/00) P. 14; McCosh, Daniel J.
Institute to Study Chemical Trucks Passing Through Kanawha Valley
Within the next two months, the National Institute of Chemical Studies will begin studying the number, contents, and crash rates of chemical trucks going through West Virginia's Kanawha Valley. Emergency officials will use the information to prepare for crashes, mark dangerous highway stretches, and cut speed limits when necessary. Associated Press (05/18/00)Bill Aims to Put More Truckers On Road
Ohio lawmakers are preparing to enact a bill that aims to fight the truck-driver shortage by allowing trucker training at joint vocational schools; currently, public schools can only offer trucker training in partnership with private companies. Also included in the legislation is language dealing with testing and hiring disabled truckers. Columbus Dispatch (05/17/00) P. 2C; Leonard, LeeState Police Have Issued No Tickets for Truck Ban on Local Roads
New Jersey State Police have not issued any citations for the state's ban on some large trucks using roads not on the National Truck Network, although troopers continue enforcement of regulations, including over 300 inspections in the past four months on two state highways north of Trenton.According to a spokeswoman for Gov. Christie Whitman, even though there have been no tickets police have been turning back trucks that are in violation, and the attorney general has told Whitman that state police will soon begin enforcing the fines and penalties associated with the ban. The Times of Trenton reported that an attorney general's spokesman said legal issues presently would not allow summonses to be upheld in court.
A spokesman for the state police said the fact that the inspectors along the state highways north of Trenton have inspected few oversized trucks shows that word is getting out about the ban. Associated Press (05/17/00); Siegel, Ralph
Prime Trucking Faces Negligence Lawsuit
Prime Inc. is being sued for $45 million by a man whose wife died in a 1999 accident in Greenville, S.C.; he claims that the company's hiring of independent driver Charles Scalan was negligent due to Scanlan's driving record.The suit claims that Scalan, of Cape Coral, Fla., did not stay in control of his vehicle or pay attention to slow traffic in a construction area prior to the crash, which killed three people. Scalan, who has not been hit with criminal charges related to the crash, paid fines for speeding on three occasions between 1995 and 1998 and for careless driving once in 1998.
Prime says it rates truckers' safety based on such factors as tickets per mile. MSNBC Online (05/17/00); Patton, Laurie
Sharing the Road With Trucks - Trucking Association Gives Away Free Copies of New Road Sharing Video
The Ontario Trucking Association is selling a video titled Sharing the Road With Trucks, along with a pocket reference guide, for C$9.99 a copy – and will be distributing them free to the first 1,000 people who call to order one.The video is being sent to all Ontario provincial legislators and will be available with public viewing rights for institutions and educational facilities for C$19.99. The association also offers road-sharing tips free to people who call the group and has them online at www.ontruck.org as well. Canada NewsWire (05/17/00)
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