News Briefs - Jan. 13
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The Latest Headlines:
- Accident in Maryland Causes I-95 Closure
- OPEC Asks Oil Markets to Stabilize Prices
- Schneider Seeks 400 Truck Drivers in Georgia
- Import Prices Rise 0.2% in December
- Report: U.S. Proposes Slashing Tariffs on Many Imports
- AAIA Names Schmatz President
- Con-Way Signs Logistics Deal With Scitex
- OPEC Asks Oil Markets to Stabilize Prices
Accident in Maryland Causes I-95 Closure
Interstate 95 in Howard County near the Baltimore County line was closed in both directions on Tuesday afternoon following a multi-vehicle accident, news services reported.According to the police, a tanker truck was merging from Interstate 895 onto I-95 at the Howard County line about 3 p.m. when it fell on to several other vehicles and exploded, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Police said at least two people have died, the Sun said. Transport Topics
OPEC Asks Oil Markets to Stabilize Prices
OPEC President Purnomo Yusgiantoro on Tuesday asked oil markets to take steps to keep prices stable as signals grew that sustained price strength would make it hard for the cartel to enact an expected supply cut next month, Reuters reported.The price of crude oil in the United States has topped $35 a barrel for the first time since the Iraq war on fears that cold weather would strain crude oil stocks already at their lowest level since 1975, Reuters said.
Prices have risen about 30% since OPEC's decision in September to cut production by 900,000 barrels per day as of November 1.
OPEC ministers said they expected to cut supply again at a Feb. 10 meeting, fearing a surplus in the second quarter as demand declines after the northern winter, Reuters said. Transport Topics
Schneider Seeks 400 Truck Drivers in Georgia
Truckload carrier Schneider National Inc. said Monday it planned to open a new operations center next month in DeKalb County, Ga.The company said in a release it was looking to hire 400 additional truck drivers for routes throughout the southeastern United States.
Schneider is ranked No. 7 on the Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian trucking companies. Transport Topics
Import Prices Rise 0.2% in December
The Labor Department said Tuesday the price of goods imported into the United States rose 0.2% in December, the third consecutive climb, after increasing 0.5% the previous month.The data would likely reinforce views the Federal Reserve has little to fear from inflation when deciding monetary policy, Reuters reported.
The cost of petroleum products rose 1.8%, Labor said. Excluding the price of petroleum, import prices rose 0.1%.
Labor also said export prices rose 0.2%, helped by a 1% increase in the cost of foods and beverages. The price of meat exports dropped 3%. Transport Topics
Report: U.S. Proposes Slashing Tariffs on Many Imports
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick sent a letter over the weekend to all 148 World Trade Organization countries proposing eliminating all farm-export subsidies and slashing tariffs on goods and food imports, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.Zoellick's letter indicates the United States wants to focus on lowering tariffs on manufactured goods and agricultural products while eliminating negotiations in areas that stirred heavy opposition among a large bloc of countries that included China, Brazil and India, the Journal said.
However, these efforts by the Bush administration could stir stiff opposition from domestic farmers and labor unions, who fear a loss of subsidies and increased global competition, according to the Journal. Transport Topics
AAIA Names Schmatz President
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, representing manufacturers, distributors and sellers of motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools and supplies, on Jan. 1 named a new president and CEO.AAIA said it promoted Kathleen Schmatz to president and CEO from executive vice president, a position she had held since 2002.
Schmatz replaced Alfred Gaspar, who retired after 30 years in the aftermarket industry. AAIA said Gaspar would continue to serve as a consultant to the association. Transport Topics
This story appeared in the Jan. 12 print edition of Transport Topics.
Con-Way Signs Logistics Deal With Scitex
Con-Way Logistics, a unit of Con-Way Transportation Services Inc., said Tuesday it had signed an agreement with Scitex Vision America Inc. to provide supply-chain services.Scitex is a manufacturer of digital printing presses and other printers. Con-Way said in a release the deal expands on the services it has been providing to Scitex since 2002.
The company said warehouses in Atlanta and Los Angeles will provide inventory management and fulfillment services for over 1,000 Scitex Vision machine parts, inks and media items.
Con-Way is a subsidiary CNF Inc., ranked No. 4 on the Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian trucking companies. Transport Topics
