P.M. Executive Briefing - May 25
This Afternoon's Headlines:
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Surprise Inspections Net 490 Violations
Surprise commercial-vehicle inspections performed by the Nebraska State Patrol on Tuesday and Wednesday found 490 violations – among roughly 140 vehicles inspected – and assessed fines totaling over $10,000.The inspections, which took place at two locations in Kearney, were intended to ensure the safety of commercial vehicles operating in residential neighborhoods. Associated Press (05/25/00)
High-Tech Robbery Resembles Earlier Thefts
A delivery driver for Serve-All Air of South San Francisco was beaten and tied up while his truck was ransacked for electronic parts, mainly silicon wafers.Police in Sunnyvale, Calif., say that Tuesday's incident was similar to a hijacking and robbery of a delivery driver last summer in Santa Clara, in which 500 Intel Pentium 2 microprocessors were taken. Police note that both cases may be the work of a ring of Ecuadorian and Colombian burglars based in Los Angeles.
The group typically steals disk drives, computer monitors, microprocessors, and other computer-related items from delivery trucks, and is usually non-violent. However, in the past, the group has broken into companies and bound and gagged employees at gunpoint, and has also kidnapped high-tech executives in order to obtain information and computer parts.
Police estimate that cargo-theft in the San Francisco Bay Area is a $30 million-a-year business, but contend that the true figure is probably much higher. SiliconValley.com (05/24/00); Cronk, Michael; Skipitares, Connie
China Trade Vote Praised by Business, But Labor Issues Warning
Wednesday's U.S. House vote to have permanent normal trade relations with China is being hailed by business groups including cargo companies, who see it as a way to spur future sales and freight volumes, but has left labor groups worrying about jobs lost to foreign suppliers. The Teamsters Union issued a press release vowing to "reassess our support of any candidate who voted against working families." Transport Topics staffCops, Officials Say Poor Safety Rap Undeserved
The Trucker and the Law discussion at the Alberta Fleet Maintenance Supervisor's Association 2000 Conference and Trade Show enabled managers, operators, and technicians to question a panel of Canadian federal and provincial vehicle inspection experts from government.According to Tracey Birch, Alberta Infrastructure's head trainer and vehicle safety coordinator, Alberta's trucks are just as safe as those in other Canadian provinces despite Alberta's higher out-of-service rate. Birch said Alberta catches more violations because of its "very aggressive, very thorough" Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance inspection program.
Alberta Auto and Truck Repair President Bob Steeves was concerned about trucks showing up at his shop in unsafe condition despite being certified as roadworthy in earlier inspections.
Responding to a question from Mullen Trucking's Kelly Scheer regarding whether the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology's one-year trailer-technician program would produce technicians with sufficient experience, Alberta Infrastructure safety engineer Harry Parenteau said the new inspectors would be more conversant with new technology than more experienced inspectors. Edmonton Sun (05/25/00) P. S4; Evans, Colin
Manitoban Named Canada's Truck Driver of the Year
The 1999 CTA-Volvo Trucks Canada National Driver of the Year is Jules Balcaen, who drives for Steinbach, Manitoba-based Bulk Milk Haulers and has accumulated 3 million kilometers over 30-plus years without a preventable accident.Balcaen has won the Manitoba Driver of the Month award twice, and repeatedly goes out of his way to assist stranded motorists, including helping a pregnant woman from an overturned van in 1994 and assisting a young mother stranded in a storm with her baby in 1979. Edmonton Sun (05/25/00) P. S9; Canadian Trucking Alliance
Quebec Officials Displeased With Ottawa Decision to Ban Trucks on Bridges to Quebec
Ontario's Ottawa-Carleton Regional Council has decided to ban trucks from using the two bridges in downtown Ottawa that cross the provincial border to Quebec, as well as the Cumberland ferry between the two provinces, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during a three-month trial this fall.The Ottawa-Carleton region has been at odds with officials in Quebec's neighboring Outaouais region over where to build a new bridge between the two provinces. Yves Ducharme, mayor of Hull, Quebec, called the passage of the ban "a very, very dark day in our relationship with [Ottawa-Carleton Regional Chair Bob] Chiarelli."
Ottawa's new city council will evaluate the ban in the winter, and the Ottawa-Carleton region will talk to neighborhoods and trucking companies about the policy. Ottawa Citizen (05/25/00) P. C6; Laucius, Joanne
Compiled by Transport Topics staff and INFORMATION, INC. © 2000
