P.M. Executive Briefing - Sept. 29
This Afternoon's Headlines:
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Volvo Sees Weaker U.S. Heavy Truck Market in 2000
AB Volvo has announced that it expects the heavy truck market in North America to reach 300,000 vehicles this year, compared to 236,000 in 1998. But the Sweden-based manufacturer of trucks and buses expects less strength in the heavy-duty truck market next year. The company is amid a takeover of Scania. Reuters (09/29/99)Consolidated Freightways Invests in Future; Company Upgrades Fleet With New Trucks
Consolidated Freightways is spending close to $65 million on new tractors, trailers, and other equipment. Among the purchases are Freightliner C112 and FL70 tractors, Mack CH612 tractors, Sterling 7500 tractors, 48-foot trailers, and AirRide doubles trailers. CF truckers helped the company decide which equipment to buy. Business Wire (09/29/99)
Lawrence-less Ameritruck Plans Exit From Chapter 11
Ameritruck announced on Tuesday that CEO Mike Lawrence resigned on Aug. 13. Ron Damico, president and CEO of Ameritruck subsidiary KTL, "is now in charge of running the company," says consultant Victor Bremson. Ameritruck expects to come out of Chapter 11 in November; the company declared bankruptcy in 1998. Between its 1995 founding and 1998, Ameritruck took over 11 other businesses, hired more than 3,000 truckers, and built up long-term debt totaling $200 million. The Trucker Online (09/29/99) ; Whitsett, JackTransport Minister Announces Intentions for Amendments to Motor Vehicle Transport Act
On Tuesday, Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette said he wants to go forward with proposed safety- and efficiency-related changes to the 1987 Motor Vehicle Transport Act while putting parts of the amendments related to the economics of the bus industry economy into a parliamentary committee. "I believe the important safety provisions included in the proposed amendments should not be delayed while further debate takes place on the economic regulation of the bus industry," Collenette said. Canada NewsWire (09/28/99)Mattress, Trailer Firms to Open Factories in Southwest Virginia
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. says it will put a new dry trailer plant in Washington County, Va., and upgrade its plant in nearby Smyth County. The company has received a $5,000 grant from the governor for the Washington County site, where the plant will have an annual trailer output of 7,000 and add 300 jobs to the county. Arkansas, Indiana, and Ontario were vying to be the location of the new plant. Richmond Times-Dispatch (09/28/99) ; Bowman, RexSheriff's Detective Uncovers Scheme to Dupe Trucker Out of Repair Funds
Medina County Sheriff's Deputy J. Tadd Davis has been investigating James "Pops" Mathers for allegedly coning trucking companies out of their repair funds. Mathers is on parole for having committed exactly the same crime in Nevada in the early 1990s, and Medina County has indicted Mathers on racketeering, conspiracy, and forgery charges.According to Davis, Mathers, with the help of others, would collect vehicle numbers and convince companies to tell their secret ComChek access codes. ComChek is a money wiring service transport firms use to pay for fuel and repairs. Mathers' informants would call him with the vehicle number, the trucking company address, and the code, then Mathers would call companies posing as a mechanic seeking payment for repairs, Davis says.
David A. Meekins and Larry Crislip were detained after they tried to cash a check after an advisory was posted. They are accused of being accomplices. Other arrests are expected in the case. Neither Mathers nor a large part of the money can be found. Davis put the total amount of money of which the trucking companies were defrauded between $200,000 and $1 million. Cleveland Plain Dealer (09/28/99) P. 1B; Hudak, Stephen
Ryan Questions Credibility of Man Who Admitted Rigging License Tests
Illinois Gov. George Ryan on Tuesday questioned Gonzalo Mendoza's statements in a plea bargain regarding the drivers'-license bribery scandal. Mendoza said among those who he helped get a CDL was the trucker involved in a 1994 accident that killed seven people including six children after a taillight assembly fell off. Mendoza's plea bargain also said to his knowledge the bribe funds contributed to fundraisers related to politics.Ryan is upset that the scandal occurred when he was secretary of state and that it has been alleged that his gubernatorial campaign coffers benefited from a portion of the bribes. "When people who plead guilty and make a deal, they can say about anything they want to say," the governor said. Associated Press (09/28/99) ; Fox, Mario
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