A.M. Executive Briefing - May 22
This Morning's Headlines:
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Driver Fatigue to Be Issue in I-95 Crash Trial
A civil suit between the state of Pennsylvania and a New Jersey trucking company whose gasoline tanker exploded on Interstate 95 two years ago killing the driver and another motorist is set to begin May 22 in Philadelphia.The suit is of particular significance because it comes at a time when federal regulators are pursuing new safety restrictions that would require truckers to spend 12 hours off the job for every 12 hours they spend behind the wheel.
The state is seeking reimbursement for the repair costs and punitive damages that would deter other trucking companies from pushing drivers to work long hours. About 5,000 people die each year from crashes involving trucks. Associated Press (05/21/00)
Yellow Freight Appoints Executive
Yellow Freight System has appointed a new president. On June 1, James Welch, who has spent 22 years with the company, will take Bill Zollars' place as president and COO, according to a company statement.Welch started working in sales and operations at Yellow Freight's Houston office in 1978; since January 1998 he has been the central group vice president.
Meanwhile, Mike Smid has been promoted to executive vice president and CAO, effective June 1. Kansas City Star (05/20/00) P. C2; Heaster, Randolph
Truck Driver Awarded $800,000 in Discrimination Lawsuit
Trucker James Hall, who said a manager used a racial slur against him and he found racial graffiti in the restroom, has been awarded $800,000 in a federal discrimination lawsuit against Consolidated Freightways.The company fired Hall, who is black, in 1998 for what testimony called a minor infraction, after which he filed a grievance with his union and was rehired. He said he was given bad assignments and no overtime despite having no accidents and only a single missed day in 15 years of employment. Associated Press (05/20/00)
Truck Test; Give Big-Rig Safety Pilot Program the Green Light
The Houston City Council will decide next month whether to green light a safety pilot program on a section of Interstate 10 that has a high volume of trucks and a history of accidents. The program would limit trucks with three or more axles from using the far-left lane on both sides of the road between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.Police, truck drivers' groups, and others who are concerned about big-rig safety and the growing number of traffic fatalities involving trucks are all in support of the program. Houston Chronicle (05/20/00) P. A36
Truckers Ask Motorists for More Road Respect
The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has launched an awareness campaign in order to better educate motorists regarding the sharing of the road with big-rigs.In a recent press release, the OTA offered several suggestions involving visibility, safe passing, avoiding blind spots, and careful merging. The association said it will harp on the fact that truckers face longer stopping distances and larger blind spots, and car drivers need to drive accordingly.
According to OTA President David Bradley, car drivers are at fault in three of every four collisions that occur between cars and trucks. Toronto Star Online (05/20/00)
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