Transport Topics back issues from February 2006:
Sandberg to Leave FMCSA
Feb 06, 2006; ... Agency Chief's 3-Year Tenure to End March 1 Annette Sandberg, the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, said she will step down after three years as administrator on March 1. Sandberg's tenure as FMCSA's seeond administrator has seen two controversial ...
Fleets Expect More Rate Hikes As '06 Freight Demand Grows
Feb 06, 2006; ... Many large motor carriers, flush from a successful 2005, said they expected the combination of strong freight demand and a robust economy to push rates up between 4% and 6% this year, marking the third straight year of increases. The pressure to raise rates is affecting both truckload ...
Paccar Predicts Sales Gain; DaimlerChrysler Cautious
Feb 06, 2006; ... Paccar Inc. and its North American engine suppliers, Cummins Inc. and Caterpillar Inc., all reported record annual revenues and profits for 2005, capped by record fourth quarters. The truck manufacturer said big-truck sales in the United States could jump 8% this year. Paccar, the ...
ATA's Graves 'Hoping' for Strong 2006, But Is Wary of Looming Changes
Feb 06, 2006; ... American Trucking Associations officials said they hoped the industry would have a second straight strong year, but they had concerns about upcoming changes in fuel and engines, and the continued uncertainty around hours-of-service regulations. ATA President Bill Graves, in a Jan. 30 ...
YRC Worldwide Net Skyrockets 58%, Helped by Mergers, Efficiency Gains
Feb 06, 2006; ... Profits at less-than-truckload carrier YRC Worldwide jumped 26% in the fourth quarter as the company's net for the year sky-rocketed 58%, the company reported. The profits gains were propelled by strong demand, the addition of USF's regional LTL carriers, and ongoing synergies from the ...
Coca-Cola Says 'Significant Changes' Made to Its Super Bowl Commercial
Feb 06, 2006; ... A Coca-Cola Co. spokesman told TRANSPORT TOPICS the company made some "significant changes" to its "Full Throttle" television advertisement that was scheduled to run before the Super Bowl Feb. 5. Coca-Cola spokesman Scott Williamson refused to say whether the changes were prompted by a ...
Caterpillar, Tenneco Add DPF Offerings
Feb 06, 2006; ... Engine maker Caterpillar Inc. said it created a new business unit to design and build its own brand of aftertreatment products to control emissions on its truck, bus and off-road machinery engines. Among other things, Cat said the unit would make diesel particulate filters for its 2007-model ...
Correction
Feb 06, 2006; ... The Digest item "Ford to Close 14 Plants, Cut 30,000 Jobs" (1-30, p. 28) ...
Kenworth Makes Bendix's System Standard
Feb 06, 2006; ... Truck maker Kenworth said Jan. 30 that the Bendix ABS-6 System - an anti-lock brake system that helps to prevent jackknifing and rollovers - is now standard on its Class 8 ...
Market Trends
Feb 06, 2006; ... * Jan. 30 - Marten Transport Ltd. was downgraded to "market perform" from "outperform" by Chaz Jones at Morgan ...
Glacier Signs Agreement With Synergistic Systems
Feb 06, 2006; ... Glacier Computer, which develops industrial computers designed to withstand harsh conditions, said it established a new marketing agreement with software maker Synergistic Systems in an effort to increase sales of its products to less-than-truckload carriers. John Geary, president of ...
OKLAHOMA: Funding Proposal
Feb 06, 2006; ... BRIEFS OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Brad Henry has proposed spending an extra $100 million this year for bridge repair and an additional $520 million on highway projects over a 10-year period. His plan also includes a "lockbox" provision to ensure future legislators do not shift highway ...
ARIZONA: National Guard
Feb 06, 2006; ... NACO - Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano's proposal to assign more National Guard troops near the border with Mexico is drawing mixed reviews. The state already has about 170 National Guard troops at the border, assisting with communications, fence construction and anti-drug ...
ARKANSAS: New Business
Feb 06, 2006; ... ROGERS - A $27 million cold storage operation is scheduled to open later this year in northwest Arkansas, with the backing of trucking magnate J.B. Hunt. Hunt, the founder of truckload carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services, is part of a group building a 250,000-square-foot facility that ...
Sandberg Departs
Feb 06, 2006; ... Annette Sandberg will be missed after she steps down March 1 as head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Sandberg, only the second head of the six-year-old agency that oversees the safety of the nation's trucking and bus fleets, has been a calm, professional hand at the ...
Trucking Is Overtaxed
Feb 06, 2006; ... The trucking industry is being overtaxed. Federal and state tax liabilities are rising at a more rapid rate for trucking than for the air and rail carriers with which motor carriers compete. Motor carriers do not enjoy some of the benefits offered to air and rail carriers as a result of ...
Transportation Funding Gaps Need Fixes Before Next Highway Bill, Officials Say
Feb 06, 2006; ... With two bipartisan commissions being formed to look into future transportation funding issues, it is important that trucking and intermodal advocates step forward with recommendations to solve financing shortfalls, industry officials said. "Infrastructure needs to be defined in a way ...
PEOPLE: BRIEFS
Feb 06, 2006; ... Mover Barrett Moving & Storage, Eden Prairie, Minn., named Karla Robinette manager of customer service at its headquarters. Barrett provides residential and commercial relocation services. The company said Robinette will be responsible for the household goods customer service ...
FLEETS: BRIEFS
Feb 06, 2006; ... Carriers Decker Truck Line, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Stud Steve O'Connor, one of its drivers and a sergeant in the 56 Brigade Combat Team of the 36th Infantry Division in the Texas National Guard, was welcomed back from an 18-month tour in Iraq with a new 2006 Peterbilt tractor. Decker provides ...
EARNINGS
Feb 06, 2006; ... Less-Than-Truckload Old Dominion Freight Line (Nasdaq: ODFL), Thomasville, N.C., is a regional and interregional less-than-truckload carrier. Operating ratio for both the fourth quarter and the full year improved to 90.8 from 91.4 a year earlier. Quarterly LTL tonnage increased ...
Calendar
Feb 06, 2006; ... Feb. 7-9 - Used Truck Association, professional used truck management training course, New Frontier hotel, Las Vegas. (336-643-1961) Feb. 7-11 - NATSO, The NATSO Show, Walt Disney World's Coronado Springs Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FIa. (615-459-5744) Feb. 11 - Sierra-Cascade ...
Researcher Says Better Options Exist To Ship Hazmats Than Rerouting Trains
Feb 06, 2006; ... WASHINGTON - Using other modes of transportation, including trucks, to move highly hazardous materials is a better alternative than rerouting train shipments around cities that limit hazmat movements, an official with the Center for Transportation Analysis said. "Trucking is a more ...
December Tonnage Drops 3% As Automotive Sector Declines
Feb 06, 2006; ... Truck tonnage fell 3% in December from November's total - the largest month-to-month decrease in nearly six years - as shipments of domestic cars and auto supplies declined, according to preliminary' figures released by American Trucking Associations. The drop in ATA's seasonally ...
Canadian Software Firm to Open U.S. Office to Meet Rising Demand
Feb 06, 2006; ... Canadian software provider Cube Route said the Torontobased company will open its first U.S. sales office in Chicago in the next few weeks in order to meet rising demand for Internet-based logistics services. Alex Walker, Cube Route's chief executive officer, also announced that Bill ...
U.S., Canada Reject Twin For Ambassador Bridge
Feb 06, 2006; ... WASHINGTON - U.S. and Canadian transportation officials said they would not approve making an identical span of the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit to provide additional capacity at the busiest U.S-Canada border crossing. The Detroit River International Crossing Partnership has decided a ...
OBITUARY: Vaughn Ormsby, 85, Founder of TL Firm Ormsby Trucking in Uniondale, Ind.
Feb 06, 2006; ... Vaughn Ormsby, founder of Ormsby Trucking Inc., a truckload company based in Uniondale, Ind., died Dec. 22 at River Terrace Estates in Blnlfton, Ind. He had been in failing health the past year. He was 85. Ormsby was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served in World War II, ...
McLeod Software Says Sales Up 60% in 2005
Feb 06, 2006; ... McLeod Software, Birmingham, Ala., said its sales rose 60% in 2005, breaking its yearly sales record for the second year in a row. Tom McLeod, the company's chief executive officer, told TRANSPORT TOPICS "a strong interest from larger carriers to upgrade their systems," helped bolster ...
Diesel Up 1.7¢ to $2.489, Reaching 10-Week High
Feb 06, 2006; ... U.S. retail diesel fuel rose by 1.7 cents a gallon to an average price of $2.489 on Jan. 30 - its highest level in 10 weeks. The weekly survey by the Department of Energy also showed the average price of regular gasoline increased by 2.1 cents a gallon to $2.357, the highest it has been ...
Trucking, Railroads Struggle To Keep Up With Cargo Surge
Feb 06, 2006; ... INTERMODAL Trucking and railroads, once bitter rivals, now find themselves working to keep up with surging freight volume by improving the flow of freight through the nation's ports and rail terminals. Limits on funding and differences in priorities between trucking and ...
Carriers Notch Record Profits, Credit Strong Demand in '05
Feb 06, 2006; ... S&P Index Shows Truck Stocks Up 8.6% Over '04 Truckload carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported record net income for the fourth quarter that more than tripled its gain from a year ago, leading a parade of trucking companies reporting sizeable earnings increases because of ...
Trucking, Labor Seek Pay Gains For Drayage at California Ports
Feb 06, 2006; ... LONG BEACH, Calif. - Trucking and labor officials said they would work to raise pay for drayage drivers at California's ports, as well as cut down on long wait times in terminals, which cost truckers hundreds of dollars a day and contribute to serious port pollution problems by adding ...
TMC Annual Meeting in Tampa to Focus On Emission Rules, Wireless Systems
Feb 06, 2006; ... New emission regulations and the effect of the Internet and wireless systems on the trucking industry will be the main focus of the Technology & Maintenance Council's annual meeting, Feb. 14-17 in Tampa, FIa. Robert Braswell, technical director of TMC, said the upcoming regulations ...
Landstar Reports Record 4Q Profits
Feb 06, 2006; ... Truckload carrier Landstar System said it earned a record $43 million or 72 cents a share in the fourth quarter, compared with $24.6 million or 40 cents a year ago. For the year, the company earned $120 million or $1.98 per share, ...
Deutsche Bahn Closes BAX Deal
Feb 06, 2006; ... Germany's passenger and freight railroad Deutsche Bahn completed its $1.1 billion purchase of freight forwarder BAX Global on Jan. 31, said the Brinks Co., BAX's former owner. DB and Brink's announced the transaction in November (11-21, p. 3). The acquisition of BAX gives ...
Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rate to 4.5%
Feb 06, 2006; ... The Federal Reserve Jan. 31 raised the benchmark interest rate a quarter-point to 4.5%. It was the final meeting for Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, who has held the post since 1987. Following the announcement, the Senate confirmed Ben Bernanke to succeed Greenspan. In other economic news ...
Fenway Seeks to Grow With Freight Purchases
Feb 06, 2006; ... Fenway Partners, the private equity firm that owns Greatwide Logistics Services and expedited carrier Panther II Transportation, is seeking to further expand its portfolio oftransportation services to include air freight, port operations or rail services, according to John Anderson, chairman of ...
Car Hauler Cites Labor Costs, Production Cuts in Bankruptcy
Feb 06, 2006; ... Privately held automobile transporter Performance Transportation Services, Detroit, said it received bankruptcy court approval to use the first $5 million of $10 million in debtor-in-possession financing to maintain operations now it has filed for Chapter 11. The company filed for ...
Market Insiders
Feb 06, 2006; ... * Jan. 26 - Robert Synowicki, a vice president for Werner Enterprises Inc., exercised options on 25,000 shares at $9.66 each. He then sold them all at $20.95 per share, bringing his holdings to 6,676 shares. * Jan. 26 - Clarence Werner, chairman of Werner Enterprises Inc., exercised ...
S.C. Proposal for I-95 Tolls to Exempt Heavy Trucks
Feb 06, 2006; ... State Senator Who Sponsored Measure Does Not Want to 'Burden' the Industry South Carolina state Sen. Brad Hutto (D) told TRANSPORT TOPICS if his proposal to place tolls on a section of Interstate 95 in the state is adopted, heavy-duty trucks would be exempt from paying the ...
COLORADO: Johnson's Corner
Feb 06, 2006; ... JOHNSTOWN - Business owners, government officials and representatives of the trucking industry have told the Colorado Department of Transportation it should not close Exit 254 off Interstate 25, where a truck stop is located. CDOT is considering closing Johnson's Corner, the only truck ...
MISSISSIPPI: U.S. 90 Bridge
Feb 06, 2006; ... BILOXI - The Mississippi Department of Transportation faces more criticism on its plans for a new U.S. 90 bridge to link Ocean Springs and Biloxi. The U.S. Coast Guard has asked MDOT to address concerns raised by Gulfport shipbuilders and the Harrison County Development Commission over ...
Drivers, Trucking Executives Differ on 'Shortage'
Feb 06, 2006; ... Management Calls Market Competitive, but Labor Sees 'Unfair' Costs, Problems WASHINGTON - Drivers and trucking executives offered strongly divergent views on the market for drivers at a conference here, with management labeling the market as highly competitive and labor countering that ...
Letters & Comments
Feb 06, 2006; ... Speedier Customs U.S. Customs and Border Protection has introduced a new electronic manifest for trucks as part of the Automated Commercial Environment - next-generation technology designed to enhance national border security and expedite lawful trade. ACE provides an integrated, ...
Port of Tacoma Begins Program To Add Track
Feb 06, 2006; ... The Port of Tacoma said it will begin construction this month on six railroad projects designed to speed the movement of trains to and from the port. The projects will add additional track and reconfigure several ...
Intermodal and Congestion Relief Projects
Feb 06, 2006; ... California is the big winner in getting federal funds to pay for highway and rail improvements to improve the flow of intermodal freight. The state garnered $470 million, more than one-third of the $1.29 billion earmarked for freight-related projects of national and regional ...
NAL Worldwide Appoints Two Sales Executives
Feb 06, 2006; ... NAL Worldwide, Westmont, Ill, announced that Gary Bothmann and Dennis Fassetta were both named vice presidents of supply chain services and technology. NAL, formerly nortliAmerican Logistics/Sirva Logistics, provides supply chain services. Bothmann joins NAL Worldwide from ...
UniGroup Names Powers Senior VP
Feb 06, 2006; ... UniGroup Inc., St. Louis, named Jim Powers senior vice president of corporate business development. UniGroup transports household goods, electronic equipment, trade show exhibits and other specialized freight. It ranks No. 15 on the TRANSPORT TOPICS 100 list of the largest U.S. and ...
EVENTS: BRIEFS
Feb 06, 2006; ... Special Events The University of Washington said it will hold the 55th annual Vehicle Maintenance Management Conference March 20-23 at Kane Hall on its campus in Seattle. Organizers said 400 people were expected to attend the event, including fleet managers, shop supervisors, ...
Cross-Border Trucking Complicated By Language, ID Systems, Congestion
Feb 06, 2006; ... WASHINGTON - Language barriers, multiple identification systems, congestion and delays are some of the challenges the trucking industry faces at the nation s borders, industry executives said. In addition, the lack of a harmonized regulatory policy between the United States, Canada and ...
Chinese Imports Strain Transportation System
Feb 06, 2006; ... WASHINGTON - The continued influx of imports coming into the United States from China is placing additional demands on the nation s already strained transportation system and increasing the costs of doing business, a state transportation official said. High freight volume is contributing ...
GE Reports 4Q Profit Gain Of Less Than 1%
Feb 06, 2006; ... Fourth-quarter earnings at diversified goods and services provider General Electric Co. rose less than 1%, as it recorded a $2.7 billion loss on the sales of its reinsurance unit. However, the two units of the company that include its transportation-related businesses showed strong ...
ULSD Seen as Top Issue at NATSO's Convention
Feb 06, 2006; ... With the retail debut of ultralow-sulfur diesel fuel less than nine months away, the issue will be front and center when leaders in the truck stop industry gather in Lake Buena Vista, FIa., this week at NATSO's annual show. "Obviously, ULSD remains a large issue for our members," said ...
Class 8 Orders Set Record
Feb 13, 2006; ... Growing Pre-Buy Pushes January Total to 43,100 Class 8 truck orders in North America reached an all-time monthly high of 43,100 in January, with every truck maker reporting strong gains as buyers accelerated purchases ahead of new engine emission rules coming Jan. 1, according to data ...
Soot-Filter Performance Is Key To Success of 2007 Engines
Feb 13, 2006; ... EMISSIONS UPDATE With 2007-model year trucks set to use newly developed diesel particulate filters to control soot, questions still remain over how the new devices will affect truck performance, according to industry experts. The most pressing question is how well DPFs will work, ...
FedEx Ground to Appeal Labor Board's Ruling
Feb 13, 2006; ... FedEx Ground, the truckbased parcel courier of FedEx Corp., said last week it planned to appeal a ruling by a National Labor Relations Board official that directed an election be held at one of the company's Massachusetts terminals on whether the Teamsters union should represent drivers ...
Influencing Standards Among Priorities For Incoming TMC Chairman Clark
Feb 13, 2006; ... Increasing fleet participation and providing additional means for suppliers to influence standards are the top priorities that Marc Clark, incoming chairman of the Technology & Maintenance Council, sees for TMC as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. He also told TRANSPORT TOPICS that ...
Road Bottlenecks Cost Trucking $7.8 Billion in '04, FHWA Says
Feb 13, 2006; ... U.S. highway bottlenecks cost the trucking industry $7.8 billion and more than 243 million hours in delays during 2004, according to a report prepared for the Federal Highway Administration. The report, which was the work of Cambridge Systematics Inc. and the Battelle Memorial Institute, ...
Congress to Weigh Offering Tax Credits For Purchase of Idle-Reduction Devices
Feb 13, 2006; ... Legislation that would provide truck fleets tax credits to purchase idle-reduction technology was reintroduced in the U.S. House earlier this month. The Idling Reduction Tax Credit Act of 2006 was brought up by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) on Feb. 2 and referred to the House Committee on ...
Transportation Firms Report Higher Profits
Feb 13, 2006; ... A number of trucking firms and logistic providers last week all reported higher earnings for the most recent quarter. * Trucking and logistic services provider Pacer International reported net income of $20.4 million or 54 cents per share for the fourth quarter, compared with $17 million ...
Correction
Feb 13, 2006; ... The news story "Carriers Notch Record Profits, Credit Strong Demand in '05" (2-6, p ....
Diesel Hits $2.499 After 1¢ Rise; Gasoline, Crude Oil Decline
Feb 13, 2006; ... The average U.S. retail price of diesel fuel rose for the third week in a row to $2.499 a gallon - its highest level sinee just before Thanksgiving, according to a Feb. 6 survey by the Department of Energy. Truckings main fuel increased by a penny a gallon (or the week, and by a ...
Volvo Posts Record Sales in '05, Predicts Additional Gains in '06
Feb 13, 2006; ... Volvo AB said it sold a record number of trucks worldwide in 2005 as its profits rose about 31%. It projected additional gains for 2006. Volvo builds the Volvo and Mack Trucks brands in the United States, plus others in Europe. The third-largest manufacturer of Class 8 trucks in the ...
Highway Tolls Could Expand Under Bush Budget Proposal
Feb 13, 2006; ... WASHINGTON - The Bush administration s budget for the next fiscal year includes a new proposal to expand the use of tolls on existing highways because, officials said, fuel taxes will not raise enough money for transportation improvements. There is a growing consensus that traditional ...
Letters & Comments
Feb 13, 2006; ... EOBRs As the owner of a very small expedited trucking company, I am very concerned about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration possibly requiring electronic onboard recorders. I am sure the larger fleets, like FedEx, Werner, etc., will be able to afford the necessary ...
Companies File Lawsuit Seeking Freeze Of West Virginia Turnpike Toll Increases
Feb 13, 2006; ... An attorney representing a dozen businesses in West Virginia, including some trucking companies, has asked a judge to freeze recent toll increases on the West Virginia Turnpike. At the same time, several proposals in the state's legislature would provide some relief to truckers who use ...