P.M. Executive Briefing - Sept. 15
This Afternoon's Headlines:
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New Jersey Makes Truck Ban Permanent
The New Jersey ban confining out-of-state, 102-inch-wide trucks to the National Highway Network went into permanent law Tuesday when the state Transportation Department gave the Office of Administrative Law the finalized rule.But there are no fines for enforcement pending action by the state legislature. State Sen. William E. Schluter (R-Flemington) intends to propose fines before the end of the month. Until then, authorities can issue warnings or force truckers to turn back.
NationsWay Auction Nets Millions
At a Tuesday auction at the Commerce City, Colo., terminal of the bankrupt NationsWay Transport, Taylor and Martin Inc. auctioneers sold close to 1,800 trucks and trailers, as well as thousands of pieces of shop and office equipment. The items must be removed from the site in two weeks since the terminal was sold for $6 million in a federal bankruptcy court.Mostly small firms attended the auction, looking to get rolling stock on the cheap. "Trucks went high, and trailers are going low," said Bill Huebner during the bidding. Huebner is president of South Dakota-based Ace Steel and Recycling.
Sioux Falls Cartage owner Roger Waldner thought some of the trailer bids were "too high for the maintenance work that needs to be done."
Secured creditors will be the initial recipients of the money from the auction. However, the auction money is not anticipated to go toward paying the company's 3,500 erstwhile employees. Denver Rocky Mountain News Online (09/15/99); Williamson, Richard
DaimlerChrysler Still Eyeing Nissan Diesel
DaimlerChrysler says it is still interested in taking over the truckmaker Nissan Diesel but says no new acquisition talks can take place due to Reneault's $5.4 billion alliance with Nissan Motor Co. and 22.5 percent stake in Nissan Diesel. In early September, Renault V.I. trucks said it will soon say whether it has decided to create a broad alliance with Nissan Diesel.DaimlerChrysler is trying to increase its business in Asia and said it is still looking for possible alliances there. DaimlerChrysler broke off alliance talks with Nissan in March, after which the Reneault-Nissan alliance was created. Reuters (09/15/99)
Lawyer Puts Blame on Van Driver in Fatal Crash
Jay Starrett, an attorney representing Consolidated Freightways and McFaul Transport, argued before a jury in Milwaukee County, Wisc., Tuesday that the driver of a van involved in a multiple-fatal highway crash had some responsibility for the crash. The van driver, Thomas Inda, and seven others died in the accident.In November, Consolidated Freightways and McFaul Transport, two of whose drivers were also in the crash, settled with six of the victims' families. Starrett, who acknowledged the two truckers also had some responsibility for the crash, argued that Inda's estate and insurance company should participate in the settlement.
While there was no alcohol in Inda's blood, some of the passengers were drinking bloody marys and the van windows were fogged. Starrett says Inda had passed other drivers and could have swerved to evade the crash.
However, Tom Goss, lawyer for Inda's estate and State Farm Insurance, said that Inda did not have time to react and was not driving too fast. Goss also argued that Consolidated Freightways driver Andre Purdy, who investigators say instigated the crash when he lost control on the ice, had not previously driven a double-trailer truck in winter. And Goss said he will give evidence that Purdy had just passed another motorist.
Purdy was ticketed for driving too fast for conditions following the accident. The only survivor among the van's occupants will testify before the jury. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online (09/14/99); McBride, Jessica
OTR Express Introduces David McKnight as Vice President of Fleet Management
The TL carrier and logistics firm OTR Express (OTRX) has chosen David McKnight to be vice president of fleet management. McKnight recently managed four offices of ProDrivers, a truck driver recruiting firm."At ProDrivers, David increased the driver pool by over 90 percent in less than two years, an outstanding performance in a highly competitive environment," says OTRX President and CEO Gary Klusman. McKnight will be in charge of recruitment and retention at OTRX. Business Wire (09/14/99)
PACCAR Announces Dividend
The board of Paccar Inc. said the company will pay a $0.20 per-share dividend Dec. 3 to all stockholders of record as of Nov. 18. Paccar is the manufacturer of Kenworth, Peterbilt, DAF, and Foden trucks. Automotive Wire (09/14/99)Canadian National Launches Toronto-Montreal RoadRailer Service
Canadian National Railway (CN) has created a RoadRailer five-day-a-week door-to-door service from Toronto to Montreal. The RoadRailers, which double as truck trailers and train cars, have 110-inch-high interiors and air ride and can carry up to 70,000 pounds. The trailers will be available to carry freight at 6 a.m. and will make final deliveries at 7:30 p.m. The railroad has 200 RoadRailer Mark V trailers and 130 railroad bogies. The RoadRailer service will be run by CN unit Ecorail. Business Wire (09/14/99)© copyright 1999 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
