A.M. Executive Briefing - Oct. 4
This Morning's Headlines:
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Trucks to Get Safety Guards
A Canadian federal official has proposed making a C$200 piece of metal standard issue on trucks in Canada as part of an effort to increase highway safety. The proposal for guards that can stop cars from sliding under the backs of tractor-trailer rigs should be out for industry and public review by April. A 1997 Transport Canada report concluded about 30 people a year die in underride collisions in Canada.Canadian officials say the guards would cost about C$100 to C$200 each. Barrie Montague of the Ontario Trucking Association says that any proposal for truck underride guards would wind up banning most trucks on the roads. He notes that rear guads in place on newer trucks are doing as good a job. London (Ontario) Free Press (10/03/99) P. A4; Richmond, Randy
Call for Union Vote Just Publicity, Richmond-Va.-Based Transport Firm Says
The Teamsters have accepted a challenge for a nationwide vote on union representation at Overnite Transportation Co., but Overnite officials say the vote is not democratic and is merely "a publicity stunt." The union issued a statement Friday accepting "the concept of a nationwide vote," but issued a list of conditions for a vote, including leaving out several thousand Overnite truck drivers and dock workers. Overnite spokesman Ira Rosenfeld says it is essential to include the company's 12,500 employees in any vote. Included in the union's conditions for a vote were a demand that six debates take place between Overnite CEO Leo Suggs and Teamsters President James P. Hoffa. Richmond Times-Dispatch (10/02/99) P. B3; Jones, ChipHouse Passes Bill to Keep Better Tabs on Bus, Truck Drivers
House and Senate conferees have agreed on a $51 billion transportation spending bill that directs federal regulators to work with states to ensure they have the most up-to-date driving records for all truck and bus drivers. Congress is also calling on the Federal Highway Administration to report by May on its planned remedies "to the vulnerabilities in the drivers license program."The Department of Transportation is considering a proposal that would give truck carriers immunity from litigation for sharing information about drivers' records, probably including health problems and failed drug tests.
Attention was brought to this issue after a bus accident in May in New Orleans that killed 22 people. The driver of the bus, Frank Bedell, had a history of failed drug tests and medical problems, but was still able to get a license to drive a bus. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (10/02/99) P. A4; Alpert, Bruce
Crash Probe Shows Firm Failed '97 Inspection
California investigators report that Rubbish Control Inc., the company that owns the truck involved in a fatal collision on a California highway on Thursday, has flunked state safety inspections twice in the past four years. The company also once had a truck taken out of service because of faulty brakes. The driver of the truck in the double-fatality incident says his brakes failed before the crash.Family members of one of the victims say they will file a lawsuit against Rubbish Control if investigators find the truck had faulty brakes. Rubbish Control officials had no immediate comment. Los Angeles Times (10/02/99) P. B1; Dirmann, Tina
Lawmakers Pushing Plans to Restrict Truck Speed, Lane Use
South Carolina State Representative Becky Martin, chairwoman of the House speed limit laws subcommittee, is drafting a bill to cut truck speeds. Martin is reviewing information from other states on the effect of restricting trucks to certain lanes on some interstates. Critics of the idea say it already has proven ineffective. Some trucking groups say the idea is worth studying.Rick Todd, president of the South Carolina Trucking Association, is lobbying for higher fines for speeding truckers, saying that speed "is a contributing factor to accidents, whether it is a car or a truck." Todd's group's board will discuss the issue at its October meeting. Associated Press (10/02/99)
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