Technology Briefs — May 2 - May 8
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The Latest Headlines:
- Mississippi Defeats Biodiesel Mandate
- Comdata Corp. Joins ATA
- Michigan Considering Lower Tax on AltFuels
- Sirius, XM Post 1Q Losses, Gain More Subscribers
- Comdata Corp. Joins ATA
Mississippi Defeats Biodiesel Mandate
The Mississippi Trucking Association, with the support of American Trucking Associations, successfully opposed a legislative initiative to mandate the sale of biodiesel in the state, ATA said.MTA was instrumental in persuading the Mississippi legislature to create a commission to further study the use of biodiesel in commercial motor vehicles and means of encouraging the use of the alternative fuel.
Comdata Corp. Joins ATA
Financial and data transaction provider Comdata Corp. has joined American Trucking Associations to work more closely with its industry counterparts in advancing the interests of trucking.Comdata looks forward to partnering with the ATA to develop solutions that meet the needs of the industry,” Scott Phillips, senior vice president and general manager of the Brentwood, Tenn., company said in statement.
Comdata, which has been in business for nearly 37 years, is a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly traded Ceridian Corp. Transport Topics
Michigan Considering Lower Tax on AltFuels
With gasoline prices soaring, Michigan state lawmakers are looking to give motorists an incentive to buy alternative fuels by lowering taxes on such fuels, the Associated Press reported.roposed bills would lower the state tax on ethanol-blended fuel to 12 cents, from the 19 cents figured into a gallon of regular gasoline.
Buying fuel blended with at least 70 percent ethanol could save the average driver about $35 in taxes each year, AP said. E85, an ethanol blend that includes 15% gasoline, also is cheaper than regular gasoline. Transport Topics
Sirius, XM Post 1Q Losses, Gain More Subscribers
Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio Holdings each reported first-quarter losses last week, though Sirius said it gained more subscribers than XM in the quarter.Sirius lost $458.5 million or 33 cents a share, compared with a loss of $193.6 million or 15 cents a year ago. XM lost $149.2 million or 60 cents a share, compared with a loss of $120 million or 58 cents a year earlier.
Sirius said it added 761,187 customers in the quarter, ending with 4.07 million users. XM added 568,900 users, finishing the quarter with a total of 6.5 million subscribers.
Truckers are a prime target for both major satellite radio providers, although they do not break out their subscribers by truckers and other users. Transport Topics
