P.M. Executive Briefing - April 13
This Afternoon's Headlines:
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Mother Wins $50 Million in Case Against Mack Trucks, Inc.
A jury in Clarke County, Ala., awarded $50 million to Mary Witherspoon, whose 33-year-old son Tonnie died in the burning wreck of his Mack Trucks tractor after his trailer jackknifed near Jackson, Ala., in 1995.His mother sued the truckmaker, who her attorneys said could have prevented the trucker's death by putting in a switch that would have activated safety belts and air bags when the accident happened and stopped the electrical arcing that caused the fire. Truckmakers, including Mack, managed to kill a 1975 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposal that would have mandated such a switch. Associated Press (04/13/00)
Teamsters Official Charged With Damaging Grocery in Monett Store
Tensions continue to mount in the labor dispute between the Teamsters union and Associated Wholesale Grocers, which began outsourcing the jobs of 1,200 trucking and warehouse workers April 1.Pickets were assaulted at a Kansas City, Kan., AWG warehouse Thursday morning, the day after Jim Kabell of union Local 245 was hit with three misdemeanor charges related to $60 worth of groceries that were irreparably damaged at a Monett, Mo., supermarket.
Monett City Attorney Mike Sweeney said Kabell,the local's business manager, put heavy groceries atop a cartful of bread, produce and ice cream, and violated a restraining order by doing so. Grocery store owner Roswil Inc. asked Tuesday that the local and Kabell be held in contempt by a Greene County judge, saying various union activities, including the alleged vandalism at the Monett store, broke the restraining order. Associated Press (04/13/00) ; Johnson, Doug
Tracking, Audit Services Added to Third Party Logistics Menu
Third-party logistics companies are quickly turning to more advanced technology to increase efficiency, find the best rates and carriers for a product, and provide carrier audit services and shipment tracking.The tracking and carrier audit services are to help clients formulate reports and compare rates, said Kevin Kimery, chief development officer for Accuship.com, formerly Express Logistics. The Warehouse Brain, which covers direct receiving, shipping, direct picking and inventory control, was developed by Evcor Memphis to provide the warehouse management that company President Bill Sappenfeld says will be needed in the future. The company is also working on technology to cover individual logistics transactions, a service that would be available to smaller companies. Last year's merger of Mark VII and MSAS/Global Logistics marked the emergence of third-party logistics as a global industry.
However, Team Logistics President Charles Lajeunesse said that in the frenzy to automate, little is being done to increase accountability of shippers and carriers. This aspect is important because opportunities for costly shipment damage and claims rise with the increase in the use of 3PLs, he said. Memphis Business Journal Online (04/10/00) ; Greer, Jason
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Oakland Truckers Fume
The Oakland Base Reuse Authority has rejected the request of a group of 17 West Oakland, Calif., trucking companies to allot them the use of 30 acres of the Oakland Army Base, saying the authority has already made agreements with the Port of Oakland and Opus West Corp.The trucking coalition wants to relocate to the army base because West Oakland, once an unattractive industrial area, is quickly becoming a stylish neighborhood, and the new and old residents no longer want industry nearby. In addition, the coalition said the army base is near the port, which allows trucking companies to keep costs down, and offers easy access to the freeways so trucks do not have to drive through West Oakland.
John Greer of Opus West said the company would rather not have trucking companies near its business park, even though it might not use all of the land. The port's senior maritime projects administrator, James Putz, said the site could be leased to the carriers for the time being, but it will be used for expanding the terminal eventually.
The West Oakland Army Base Citizens Advisory Group's chairman, George Bolton, said the area is largely zoned industrial, not for apartments or offices, so the truckers' fears of being pushed out of town are unfounded.
he truckers' coalition plans to combat any attempt to move their companies out in the future if the city does not support their attempt to move to the army base. San Francisco Business Times Online (04/10/00) ; Bishop, Amanda
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