P.M. Executive Briefing - Oct. 19
This Afternoon's Headlines:
ul>
Truck License Middleman is Sentenced
Nikola Blagojevic, who in July entered a guilty plea to giving bribes for passing grades on Illinois truck drivers license written exams, will probably be put in jail on the weekends for a month as a result of his Monday sentence of 30 days' intermittent confinement.He was further sentenced to home confinement for 5½ months, a $1,000 fine, and 200 hours' community service for the bribes, which took place at the McCook and Melrose Park licensing sites.
Roundup: MAN Sees Stable FY earnings; FY Sales, New Orders Seen Higher
On Tuesday, the MAN industrial group announced its new orders for the first quarter of its July-to-June fiscal year totaled 5.9 billion Deutsch marks, up 4% from the year-earlier quarter, with sales up 12% and total orders on hand up 21%. This went along with the German group's expectations for the full year.MAN's commercial vehicles division saw an 18% rise in first-quarter new orders. Chairman Rudolf Rupprecht says the group wants to keep earnings steady while raising investments.
In a separate news conference, Rupprecht said the industrial group had identified some possibilities that would allow growth and that its "main considerations for a link-up are a reasonable acquisition price, synergies which can be realized, and a clear structure in management leadership."
He added that the group is in discussions with Star, a Polish truckmaker, but had broken off discussions about buying a diesel engine operation from GEC Alston because the price was not low enough. AFX News (10/19/99)
Smithway Motor Xpress Corp. Reports Third Quarter Results
The Iowa-based truckload carrier Smithway Motor Xpress says it saw operating revenue of $50 million in the third quarter, up 18% from the year-earlier quarter, with earnings down to $610,000 from $1.6 million. Third-quarter net earnings per diluted share dropped to 12 cents from 32 cents.For the first nine months, the company saw $148.5 million in operating revenue, up 27% from the year-earlier quarter, with net earnings down to $3.6 million from $3.8 million. Net earnings per diluted share for the first nine months dropped to 72 cents from 75 cents. This corresponds with an announcement made by the carrier earlier this month. PR Newswire (10/19/99)
Edwards Asks for Study on Shift of Freight to Rails
Shifting freight to the railroads and cutting truck volume on I-81 in Virginia was recently the subject of a letter sent to state Transportation Secretary Shirley Ybarra on Monday by state Sen. John Edwards (D-Roanoke) who wants a study on the possibility done.According to the state senator, the idea came from discussing I-81 safety with constituents. William Fralin, Edwards' Republican challenger in the upcoming election, suggests that the study request is simply a political move.
Edwards has gotten campaign contributions from Norfolk Southern and CSX Corp. but no reported money from trucking interests, while Fralin has gotten money from a Norfolk Southern executive, a trucking company and the board chairman of another trucking company. They both say campaign contributions are not involved in the issue.
Ybarra did not see the Edwards letter, she said Monday, and called it "unlikely that I can do much to interfere with private-sector decisions." Roanoke Times Online (10/19/99); Nuckols, Christina
Mules on Wheels
Representatives from truck makers talk about the use of mules, or test vehicles, and how past test vehicles have contributed to the trucks for sale now.Freightliner puts together test vehicles to allow customers to see new technology and to get feedback. Freightliner's Argosy Safety Concept Vehicle includes such safety features as electronic brakes, a collision detector from Eaton, and a steering-column shift lever. It was largely designed to show that a truck can carry more weight without being longer; it has an extra trailer axle.
International is now working on a technology test vehicle, and many of the aerodynamic features of the Idea Truck of the early 1990s went into International's 9000i tractor. International wants to replace electronic diagnostics with prognostics, which will sense impending problems before they happen.
Kenworth Truck's technology truck was designed so different systems would work together. It includes diagnostics, various voice-activated systems, a GPS and navigational display on the dashboard, and cameras mounted around the truck including an infrared camera.
Test vehicles help Mack Trucks find that it can create what it thinks it can create, to look over new technology, and get feedback from customers and drivers.
eterbilt Motors' technology vehicle was put together to include
reature comforts for drivers as well as a computer in the dashboard and it is also used to test safety systems under development.
Sterling Truck uses mules to test suppliers' components and its own technology, such as TufTrac suspension system. It is now working on new technology for telematics, which comprises communication between trucks in motion and the company. Solid Waste Technologies (10/99) Vol. 13, No. 6; P. 50; Oswald, Michael
© copyright 1999 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
