P.M. Executive Briefing - Sept. 27
This Afternoon's Headlines:
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Venture to Build Plant
Siemens Diesel Systems Technology, a joint venture of Siemens Automotive and Navistar International, is to build a plant in Columbia, S.C., that will include engineering, testing, and manufacturing. The joint venture is to make digital fuel injectors for Navistar diesel systems. Automotive News (09/27/99) No. 5839; P. 30JIAS Communications Inc. License Agreement Completed with ARINC Incorporated
IAS Communications is giving ARINC Inc. the exclusive rights for selling and making the Hawks/ARINC antenna that will be used for truck, trailer, and refrigeration tracking as well as communications over Orbcomm satellites. The exclusive deal will last three years, subject to minimum royalty payments from ARINC and minimum purchases of Hawks antennas by ARINC. PRNewswire (09/27/99)
Time is the Enemy
The maritime industry wants to keep the chief responsibility for the safety of container chassis with truckers and trucking carriers, according to maritime companies' comments to the Federal Highway Administration. Crowley Maritime wrote that if maritime companies had more responsibility, they could be hauled into legal proceedings after road accidents, and if the United States makes the maritime companies responsible, other countries could follow suit.Maersk says it gives truck drivers "ample time and space" to conduct inspections and then does an additional inspection, and that Maersk employees will inspect in more detail at the truckers' request. Maersk argues that the trucking industry is trying to save time by not having to inspect equipment and hazmat information, and the American Association of Port Authorities says truckers are paid by the delivery and thus rarely want to turn down equipment due to safety concerns. The National Association of Waterfront Employers says trucking companies "too often fail to train their drivers and/or require their drivers to conduct adequate equipment inspections."
However, the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association contends that safety troubles that manifest themselves on the road are often things that could not be found quickly by a trucker. Truckers' inspections should be secondary to a comprehensive inspection and upkeep by the company that owns the chassis, OOIDA argues. Traffic World (09/27/99) Vol. 259, No. 13; P. 12; Wilner, Frank N.
Shipping Industry Takes Immediate Steps to Streamline Truck Gates at the Port of Seattle
In an effort to speed up operations, the Port of Seattle has been meeting with carriers, terminal operators, unions, and independent truckers. Among the possibilities in the future are changing hours of operation, updating technology, adding railyards at the dock, and creating ways for trucking carriers and gate operators to communicate information better.Two new lanes opened at Union Pacific's ARGO facility and access for truckers was extended an additional hour in the morning on Sept. 17. Union Pacific will add handheld computers on Oct. 1 and eventually change the gate structure. An extra morning hour and the possibility of staying open during the lunch break were addedat Stevedoring Services of America on Sept. 20. Earlier truck hours are available at three terminals, and it is anticipated that Hanjin Shipping will start opening at 7 a.m. as well. PR Newswire (09/27/99)
Minister Rejects Federal 401 Fix
Canada Transportation Minister David Collenette says the federal government will not dedicate money for upgrades to Highway 401 between London and Windsor, Ontario. "Roads are the responsibility of the provinces," said Collenette, who also said that provinces will decide how to spend any federal road money that is forthcoming. The federal government's yearly road expenditure is about C$500 million.However, London Mayor Dianne Haskett and other members of the Mayors' Alliance on Superhighways think improving the 401 "is a matter of national interest," since it and other 400-series highways lead North America in trade volume. Two different federal studies recommend spending C$17 billion on highways across the country, far more than is available.
At one time the federal government was planning a partnership with the provinces to spend C$4 billion on roads, but that fell by the wayside because of deficits. Now, there is a surplus, but different interests will be fighting for those funds. London (Ontario) Free Press (09/26/99) P. A1; Sher, Jonathan; Teahen, Kelley
Landair Transport Signs $60M Dedicated Transportation Agreement with Sonoco Products Company
Landair Corp. subsidiary Landair Transport has made a Dedicated Transportation Agreement with Sonoco Products to provide trucking for 13 paper and package sites in the Midwest and Southeast as well as overseeing two facilities where Landair will also perform yard switching. Other companies with which Landair has dedicated contracts are Philips Consumer Electronics, DuPont, Airborne, and FedEx. About half of Landair's revenue each year will now be coming from Dedicated Fleet Services. Business Wire (09/24/99)© copyright 1999 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
