P.M. Executive Briefing - Nov. 21
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NHTSA Formally Opens Goodyear Probe
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation Tuesday into Goodyear (GT) light-truck tires linked to at least 15 traffic deaths, three months after reports of tread separations on Firestone tires led to a nationwide recall, the Associated Press reported.Goodyear said the tires, nearly all used on commercial vehicles, are often subjected to loads heavier than they were designed to carry, and that increases in speed limits could increase heat in the tires.
NHTSA has received 37 complaints about tread separations on Goodyear's Load Range E tires, including reports of 31 crashes involving 15 deaths and 129 injuries, the news service reported. Twelve of the deaths occurred in the United States and three in Saudi Arabia, according to AP.
Calif. Officially Tightening Diesel Standards in December
The California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board announced Monday plans to extend requirements limiting nitrogen oxide emissions from 2002-2004 diesel truck engines to include 2005 model-year and later diesel engines.Noting that 13 other states are joining with California - 12 states announced yesterday (see 12 States Push Calif.-Type Engine Standards, 11/20) plus Texas - the state's top environmental offical asserted that the rules will become "de facto national regulations," and were "needed to prevent diesel manufacturers from delib-erately designing and building higher polluting trucks in those years than they will build between 2002 and 2004."
CARB is expected to adopt measures to extend the 2002-04 requirements for heavy-duty vehicles above 14,001 pounds through 2005 and later at its December 7-8 meeting in Sacramento.
The measure would preserve in 2005 about 8.4 tons per day of nitrogen oxide reductions. By 2006, those emission reductions would rise to about 17.3 tons per day. Transport Topics
Port Truckers End Strike in Montreal
A month-long strike by drayage truckers ended Monday at the Port of Montreal, Quebec, the Journal of Commerce Online reported.Many protesters voted to go back to work, while 100 truckers were fired from their previous jobs and could not return, the article said. Some non-union truckers have decided to set up their own companies to compete with fomer employers.
The strike was ruled illegal earlier this month by the Quebec government, which enforced an emergency back-to-work law and doubled wages for replacement workers.
The truckers organized the strike on Oct. 22 to mainly address the problem of not being paid while waiting for their trucks to be loaded, according to JOC.
The Quebec provincial government and the Canadian federal government said they will investigate the issue, according to the aricle. Transport Topics
Gainey to Raise Freight Rates
Truckload carrier Gainey Corporation announced this week that it will charge its shippers higher rates, effective Feb. 1, 2001.The company will be raising rates because of increased fuel costs, a 5% increase in driver wages, a 30% increase in insurance and a decline of 50% in used equipment prices, among other factors.
"I have never seen conditions like this in my 39 years in the trucking business," said company Chairman Harvey Gainey. Transport Topics
FedEx, NextLinx to Ease International Shipping Compliance
Easing compliance with international regulations for all sizes of shippers is the goal of an alliance between FedEx (FDX) and NextLinx, the companies announced Tuesday.The portfolio of trade facilitation tools and services to be marketed under the FedEx-NextLinx alliance will allow customers to easily determine and comply with international shipping requirements such as classification, documentation, license requirements and other information. These tools and services will be part of a larger body of data and technology, which FedEx Trade Networks will release in the spring, the companies said.
A recent Forrester Research report found that 85% of e-commerce firms could not fill international orders because of the complexities of shipping across borders, FedEx said. Yet according to McKinsey & Co., 80% of manufactured goods will be sold across international borders by 2020, compared to about 20% today.
NextLinx is headquartered in Silver Spring, Md. Transport Topics
Streicher Mobile Fueling Names New CEO
Streicher Mobile Fueling has a new president and chief, Richard E. Gathright.Gathright, a veteran of over 25 years in energy and energy-related logistics businesses, will be responsible for all SMF management, operations and the design and implementation of a corporate growth strategy to enhance shareholder equity value. Alternative fuels is part of the strategy, he said.
Previously, Gaithright was the president and chief of TransMontaigne Inc.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based SMF provides mobile fueling services, primarily to customers operating large fleets of vehicles, including trucks. Company-owned custom fuel trucks deliver fuel on a regularly scheduled or as-needed basis. Transport Topics
CamVec Reports Positive 3Q Earnings
Canadian moving company CamVec Corp. on Tuesday reported net earnings of C$813,702 (US$523,887) or 12 cents (7 cents US) per share for the third quarter, compared to a loss of $6,278,382 or 96 cents per share a year ago.The Ontario-based company moves home and office furniture across Canada. Transport Topics
GENCO, Soneta to Jointly Handle Merchandise Returns
GENCO Distributions System, a logistics company that handles merchandise returns for Sears, Wal-Mart and other retailers, has formed an alliance with Soneta, a technology provider, Soneta said.Dallas-based Soneta will provide GENCO with technology that will allow its retail clients to generate return labels with the merchant's bar code and make shipping arrangements online. Transport Topics
Descartes and Katalyx Form Technology Partnership
Descartes, an Internet logistics-company and Katalyx, an electronic marketplace provider have collaborated certain business operations, Descartes said.Through the alliance, Descartes' customers will do load matching online through products provided by Katalyx. In addition, Katalyx will use Descartes' logistics services to coordinate transactions of their shippers and carriers. Transport Topics
FedEx to Chauffeur Pandas to National Zoo
Package and freight courier FedEx Express will transport two panda bears from Wolong, China to Washington, D.C. on Dec. 6, the company said.The pandas will board a FedEx jet fly to Dulles International Airport outside Washington. Then the pandas will get a ride in FedEx's caravan vehicles to the Smithsonian's National Zoo. FedEx will also provide the containers the pandas will sit in during the flight. Transport Topics
Headlines From Today's A.M. Briefing
- Snow Blankets Buffalo Area; Peace Bridge Reopened
- Delivery Service CD&L Ekes Out Mild 3Q Gain
- NHSTA May Probe Goodyear Tires
- Kenworth, Hino Rank High in Medium Truck Survey
- Ethic Rules for Federal Contractors on Horizon
- Associates/Citicorp Merger Going Slowly
- Toyota May Buy Stake in DaimlerChrysler
- NEC, Toyota Combine Distribution
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