A.M. Executive Briefing - May 19
This Morning's Headlines:
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Volvo's Johansson Sees Possible Truck Alliances in Asia
Leif Johansson, CEO of Volvo, told the newspaper Handelsblatt he expects truck manufacturing to continue to consolidate, but if Volvo and DaimlerChrysler want to enter any more alliances, it would have to be with Asian partners. He attributed this to the size of the companies and the likelihood that European Union competition concerns would arise if either tries to ally with another truckmaker in Europe.He also expressed hope that the EU will approve Volvo's acquisition of Renault Vehicules Industriels by the end of this year and said Volvo needs to try to find a way to sell its Scania stake without hurting Volvo or Scania shareholders. AFX European Focus (05/19/00)
Sthen Leads Volvo Truck
Volvo Construction Equipment President Tryggve Sthen has been selected to take Karl-Erling Trogen's place as chief of Volvo Truck. Trogen, who will continue as an executive committee member at Volvo Group, is leaving now as Volvo continues with its planned acquisition of Renault Vehicules Industriels. Financial Times (05/19/00) P. 22; Burt, TimTeamsters, Firms Slate Job Fair
Responding to the current shortage of truckers and other workers, Teamsters Local 63 and eight trucking-related companies are planning a job fair at the local's office in Rialto, Calif., Saturday. Roadway Express driver Margaret Peterson, based in Adelanto, came up with the idea for this unprecedented cooperation between the union local and the companies.The companies planning to be at the job fair between 8 a.m. and noon are: United Parcel Service, Arkansas Best, Consolidated Freightways, Pacific Motor Trucking, Roadway Express, Yellow Freight System, Stater Bros., and Hadley Auto Transport. In addition to drivers, UPS is looking for package sorters and some of the companies need dockworkers. Riverside Press-Enterprise (05/18/00) P. E1; Katzanek, Jack
Man Charged With Stealing Trailer of VCRs
DSL Transport Services driver John F. Whirl, of North Charleston, S.C., has been accused of stealing a trailer containing $179,400 worth of VCRs that were bound for a North Carolina Wal-Mart.The empty trailer, reported as having been stolen in mid-March, was discovered along Interstate 26 in May, and authorities have found 20 of the stolen VCRs thus far.
According to Detective David Barnette, Whirl drove the trailer to a trucking yard, rather than driving it to North Carolina, after he picked it up at the Mount Pleasant, S.C., terminal March 10; the accused trucker has said he was tired. Associated Press (05/18/00)
Fuel Cells Vehicles to Gain Market Share in 10 Years, Says Study
A study by Allied Business Intelligence predicts a nearly 4% U.S. market share for automotive fuel cells by 2010, with market penetration of up to 7.6% of the automotive market. Market penetration in Japan and Europe will follow, with Japanese market share up to 4.5% and European share up to 3.7% by 2010.The report examines potential use of the fuel cells in all sorts of vehicles, and says the kinds most likely to be used early on are proton exchange membrane – expected to have 80% of the fuel cell market in 2010 – as well as solid oxide and alkaline. Costs, rather than technology, are a main problem with fuel cells at present; the study predicts mass production will bring those costs down by 2010. Xinhua General News Service (05/18/00)
New Group Fights Diesel Fuel Ban
A Southern California coalition called the South Coast Clean Air Partnership is trying to keep the South Coast Air Quality Management District from barring publicly owned trucks and buses from using diesel.The air district's proposed diesel ban concentrates on natural gas, but the new advocacy group says low-sulfur diesel is as friendly to the environment as natural gas; it also cites a Harvard study saying natural gas produces more greenhouse gases. In addition, the coalition wants SCAQMD to wait until autumn to enact new regulations, in order to provide time to assess the proposals' effects on the environment and economy.
If clean diesel is as environmentally friendly as natural gas and fuel cell technology is only a generation away, there is no reason to make incentives for natural gas, says coalition chairman Bob Sulnick. But the air district is not being swayed by the coalition's arguments. The district doubts that current clean diesel is as clean as natural gas and considers natural gas, properly used, to be safe. Riverside Press-Enterprise (05/18/00) P. A4; Steele, Jeanette
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