P.M. Executive Briefing - July 31
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Slow North American Sales Also Hit Grupo Dina in Second Quarter
Latin American truck maker Grupo Dina reported a net loss of 296 million Mexican pesos in the second quarter Monday.Dina's total sales decreased 88.6% to 276 million pesos for the quarter, the company said. Like many U.S. truck makers, Dina attributed the loss to a significant decrease in sales in the North American truck market.
Dina signed a 10-year agreement last October with Western Star Truck Holdings, which was recently purchased by DaimlerChrysler subsidiary Freightliner, to produce Class 6 and 7 trucks for the United States, Canadian and Australian markets. Transport Topics
Truck Stop Owner Ordered To Pay $7.7 Million In Flying J's Floor Plan Suit
Fresno truck stop owner Tommy G. Pistacchio will have to pay truck-stop chain Flying J Inc. $7.7 million for using floor plans similar to those copyrighted by the truck stop giant, the Fresno Bee reported.A federal jury gave the award to Utah-based Flying J, finding that architect Ronald Daggett had "converted" Flying J's copyright. The jury did not assess any damages to Daggett, the article said.
Pistacchio said through a spokeswoman that he plans to appeal the decision. His lawyer claimed Flying J had seen the truck stop plans ahead of time and told Pistacchio to go ahead with it, the article reported. Transport Topics
DaimlerChrysler Begins Tender Offer For Detroit Diesel Purchase
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The offer and withdrawal rights expire Aug. 25 at midnight eastern time unless extended, the company said. DaimlerChrysler will be purchasing 18.1 million shares for $423 million to add to the 21% of Detroit Diesel it already owns, the report said.
DDC Holdings, a division of Penske Corp., will also tender the 48.6% of Detroit Diesel shares it currently holds, Bloomberg said. Transport Topics
Indianapolis Facing Traffic Boom on Interstate 465
Traffic projections through the next 25 years show that Interstate 465 around Indianapolis could fill 12 lanes, MSNBC.com reported.Current use of the highway is beyond capacity, and the local population growth will quickly fill any expansions that can be done, the report said. Moreover, the road was built in the 1970s and is in need of repaving.
Officials said in the report I-465 could only be expanded 10 lanes rather than the needed 12 without disrupting existing homes and businesses. Local residents and officials hope a proposed public transportation system, also being studied, might be the solution to the traffic boom, the report said. Transport Topics
Underground Scales Will Help Ease Wal-Mart Truckers' Trips in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Transportation has installed underground scales to speed up the weighing process for Wal-Mart's 30 trucks traveling to company's Suffolk, Va., distribution center, the Virginian-Pilot reported recently.The "weigh-in-motion" is Virginia's first. Service will begin in August for the Wal-Mart trucks hauling shipping containers to the distribution center, the article said. Transport Topics
Ryder System, Inc. Names Nelson To Board
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Nelson joined the company last May and serves as senior executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer and a member of the management committee.
Ryder System, Inc., is a worldwide provider of logistics and transportation management solutions. Transport Topics
Nationals Will Be Anniversary Gift For Driver's Wife
Garland McCary will join 35 fellow Roadway drivers at the National Truck Driving Championships in New Orleans Aug. 9-12. The trip is a gift to his wife of two years, Penny, reports the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal.Garland won the state championship in the straight truck division on the couple's second wedding anniversary. They will stay in New Orleans a few extra days after the competition to enjoy the sights, the article said.
A former Marine, Garland McCary has been driving for Roadway for 13 years. This is his second year competing in truck driving competitions, according to the article. Transport Topics
Sign In Leesburg, Va., Causes Confusion For Motorist
A Richmond, Va., motorist wrote to Washington Post columnist "Dr. Gridlock" expressing confusion over a roadside sign in Leesburg, Va.The sign read: "Use of Engines Brakes Prohibited," causing the motorist to wonder whether cars should be shut off and pushed through town, the letter said.
A city official told the columnist that the sign was supposed to read "Use of Engine Brakes Prohibited," meaning truck drivers are not allowed in Leesburg to use their Jacobs Engine Brakes, commonly known as "Jake brakes." Transport Topics
