Transport Topics back issues from April 2006:
Freightliner Orders Price Cuts, Quality Upgrade, From Suppliers
Apr 03, 2006; ... LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Freightliner LLC has ordered its suppliers to cut their prices by 3% annually and to sharply reduce the number of defective parts they supply or risk being shut out by the nation's largest heavy-duty truck producer. Roger Nielsen, Freightliner's chief operating officer, ...
Fuel Cards Have Become Multi-Purpose Tool, Helping Monitor Charges, Repairs, Fleets Say
Apr 03, 2006; ... MANAGING FUEL COSTS Fleet executives say fuel cards have evolved into a data-gathering tool that allows them to alert drivers to the best fuel prices across the country, track and plan vehicle maintenance and repairs and monitor driver spending by comparing fuel expenses with operating ...
Model Broker Contract to Be Released At Intermediaries Association Meeting
Apr 03, 2006; ... The president of the Transportation Intermediaries Association said the group will release details of a model broker-carrier contract and a freight-payment guarantee program at its annual convention April 6-8 in Tucson, Ariz. TIA, Alexandria, Va., represents freight brokers and ...
Trailer Industry's Outlook Improving, Says Manufacturing Group's Chairman
Apr 03, 2006; ... The chairman of the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association said he sees an improving outlook for trailer makers as they prepare for TTMA's annual meeting April 5-9 in Phoenix. "The economic signs for our industry continue to improve," said Menno Eby Jr., owner of M.H. Eby Inc., a ...
DOT Raises Light-Truck Fuel Standards
Apr 03, 2006; ... The federal government raised fuel-economy standards for light trucks such as sport utility vehicles 11% over four years starting in 2008 and for the first time included the biggest SUVs. Vehicle makers will have to average 24 miles per gallon by 2011 on SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans, ...
Sandberg Set to Leave FMCSA
Apr 03, 2006; ... Annette Sandberg is scheduled to officially step down as head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on March 31, agency officials said. Agency officials said no announcement has been made regarding either a ...
TMC Creates 0-0 Membership Category
Apr 03, 2006; ... The Technology & Maintenance Council said it has created a special membership category for owner-operators, individuals who own or operate up to five power units. "By creating this new membership category, TMC will increase the pool of truck ...
Intermodal Rail Freight Volume Up 10.9%
Apr 03, 2006; ... Intermodal rail freight volume increased 10.9% and carload freight rose 2.5% during the week ended March 25 compared with a year earlier, the Association of American Railroads reported March 30. Intermodal volume totaled 234,170 trailers or containers, with container volume rising 13.5% ...
Freightliner to Delay Global Engine, Exec Says
Apr 03, 2006; ... LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Freightliner's top executive said the company would introduce a global engine platform in 2007, as scheduled, but the launch date has slipped a few months amid the complexity of developing the new powerplant. The same basic engine would be used in various markets and ...
Expediters Plan Expansions
Apr 03, 2006; ... FedEx, Panther Are Part of Rapidly Growing Niche Freight expediters FedEx Custom Critical and Panther II Transportation each announced new services as expediting continues to be one of the fastest growing segments of the trucking industry. Truck dealers and suppliers at the ...
Official Says Study's Risk Factors In Crashes Raise Policy Issues
Apr 03, 2006; ... Last month's report on large truck crashes raises the question of what should be done from a program and policy standpoint to reduce the risk factors, such as speeding or following too closely, that are associated with accidents, said a trucking industry official. The report, released ...
Why Do Trucks Crash?
Apr 03, 2006; ... We're glad to see the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration plans to further explore the results of its new crash-causation study. The study, released late last month, found that the car or car driver was found to be the primary cause in 56% of car-truck collisions. Last ...
Dana Sues Supplier Over Advance Payments
Apr 03, 2006; ... Dana Corp., the vehicle parts maker that filed for bankruptcy in March, sued supplier James Tool Machine and Engineering Inc. for allegedly violating the terms of a contract by requiring Dana to pay for parts in advance. [Neither Dana nor James Tool spokesman Jeffrey Toner returned calls ...
Increased Drilling Spurs Deals In Oil-Field Transport Sector
Apr 03, 2006; ... Increased oil and gas drilling activity has spurred two recent purchases in the oil-field transportation sector. Stallion oilfield Services, Houston, which was established in 2002 to provide housing, rental equipment, construction and logistics services at drilling sites, said it ...
Utah Trucking Group Opposes New Toll Road Law
Apr 03, 2006; ... The Utah Trucking Association said a new law allowing the state to partner with private groups to build toll roads is a mistake. State Sen. Sheldon Killpack (R), chief sponsor of the measure, said it will help the state overcome a projected $16.5 billion transportation shortfall over the ...
Fleets Say RFID Tags Possible
Apr 03, 2006; ... Radio frequency identification tags are likely to become commonplace on trucks and could replace the traditional fuel card in the coming years, as carriers seek faster ways to complete their transactions at truck stops, according to industry and fuel card executives. Randy Workman, vice ...
Cube Route Develops Online Tool To Help Shippers Access Cargo Data
Apr 03, 2006; ... Canadian software firm Cube Route introduced an Internet-based software package that it said will allow shippers to access real-time shipment data. Alex Walker, Cube Route's chief executive officer, said shippers are looking at Web-based software packages that provide easier access to ...
Fuel Cards Let Carriers Monitor Gas Prices, Direct Drivers to Lowest-Priced Diesel
Apr 03, 2006; ... Fuel cards give carriers another option to determine where they can find the best available prices across the country, according to fuel card executives. Dave Rewers, vice president for over-the-road sales at card issuer Fleet One, said major fuel card companies let clients access their ...
FedEx, UPS Say They Will Add Flights to China
Apr 03, 2006; ... Package carrier FedEx Express, the air freight subsidiary of FedEx Corp., said March 24 it was adding three weekly flights to and from China, bringing its total to 26. "China is expected to be the fastest-growing market for air cargo, averaging more than 10% growth per year between 2003 ...
Interpool Sells Container Pool For $515 Mill.
Apr 03, 2006; ... Interpool Containers Ltd., a subsidiary of Interpool Inc., said it has signed an agreement to sell a majority of its operating leases for 273,000 dry marine cargo containers to an investor group based in Switzerland for $515 million. Interpool, Princeton, N.J., said its Container ...
South African Firm Acquires Control of Tripmaster
Apr 03, 2006; ... Control Instruments Ltd., a South African maker of electronic onboard vehicle computer systems, said it has acquired a majority interest in Tripmaster Corp. for $3.5 million. The deal, announced in late March, gives Control Instruments a 51% stake in Tripmaster, Arlington, Texas. The ...
Show Sets New Record For Attendees, Exhibitors
Apr 03, 2006; ... LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The sprawling Mid-America Trucking Show here, the largest of its kind, was bigger than ever in 2006 as about 80,000 people crisscrossed more than 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space, organizers said. The previous attendance record was 76,650 last year, while the ...
Furia Signs Intent to Buy Little Trucking
Apr 03, 2006; ... Third-party logistics company Furia Organization, Rockwall, Texas, said March 28 it signed a letter of intent to acquire the assets of truckload carrier Little Trucking Inc., Greenville, ...
McLeod Offers Web-Based Logistics Software Package
Apr 03, 2006; ... McLeod Software said that it released a new version of its LoadMaster package designed to help trucking companies improve route planning. Company founder and chief executive officer Tom McLeod said that LoadMaster Broker/ Logistics is designed to make it easier for broker agents at ...
Colorado City Admits Failure in Effort to Keep Trucks off Shortcut
Apr 03, 2006; ... Officials in Fort Collins, Colo., abandoned a campaign to keep truckers from taking a shortcut through town, after a study showed that despite the city's efforts, truck traffic on the route had increased in the last year. Trucking executives said the plan - to keep truckers on Interstate ...
NEW JERSEY: Transport Fund
Apr 03, 2006; ... TRENTON - Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signed a bill that will keep the state's Transportation Trust Fund solvent for another five years. Under the plan, the fund's debt will be restructured and borrowing will be increased to pay for up to $1.6 billion a year in road and rail ...
Wisconsin Gov. Signs Bill Allowing Heavier Loads Year-Round
Apr 03, 2006; ... MADISON, Wis. - Gov. Jim Doyle (D) signed a bill March 21 allowing trucks to carry heavier loads of some commodities year round. The law will allow trucks carrying raw forest products and fruits and vegetables to transport up to 98,000 pounds. Current law allows them to carry that amount ...
MISSISSIPPI: Video Cameras
Apr 03, 2006; ... COLUMBUS - City officials in Columbus, Miss., said they may consider using video cameras to monitor some of the city's most dangerous intersections. Columbus is located near the Alabama border, between interstates 55 and 20. Video camera technology is catching hold across the ...
BRIEFS
Apr 03, 2006; ... Suppliers Phillips Industries, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., announced that Scott Berens was named engineering manager. Phillips supplies electrical and air brake equipment for the commercial vehicle industry. The company said Berens brings a broad engineering buckground, including ...
EVENTS
Apr 03, 2006; ... Calendar April 2-5 - Transportation & Logistics Council, 32nd Annual Conference, Crowne Plaza hotel, San Antonio, (631549-8984) April 2-5 - Transportation Sales & Marketing Association, TSMA Annual Conference, Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, Phoenix. (800-845-8090 ext ....
UTi Worldwide's 4Q Income Improves
Apr 03, 2006; ... Air and ocean freight forwarder UTi Worldwide reported a net income of $22.3 million or 23 cents a share for its fiscal fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, compared with $18.6 million or 19 ...
Washington Governor Signs Biodiesel Bill
Apr 03, 2006; ... Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) signed a bill March 30 that will enact a renewable fuel standard in the state, Althea Cawley-Murphree, spokeswoman for Gregoire's office, said. The law requires 2% of the states aggregate ...
Ernst to Leave N.D. Trucking Group After 30 Years as Managing Director
Apr 03, 2006; ... LeRoy Ernst said he would resign from the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association in September after nearly 30 years as managing director. The association said its board of directors planned to search for a new managing director in the coming months. Ernst called his tenure at ...
EPA Offering Fuel-Conservation Grants
Apr 03, 2006; ... The Environmental Protection Agency said March 30 it is making up to $350,000 available to states, universities and nonprofit institutions to evaluate energy saving and emission reduction technologies for longhaul trucks. EPA said grant recipients will use the funds to evaluate the ...
Daylight-Saving Time Set to Begin
Apr 03, 2006; ... Most of the nation's clocks will move forward one hour on April 2 as daylight-saving time begins. This year will mark the first in more than 30 years that all of Indiana observes daylight-saving time. All other states except Hawaii and Arizona observe daylight-saving time, according to ...
GAO: Agents Smuggled in Materials During Test
Apr 03, 2006; ... Investigators smuggled enough radioactive material into the United States during a test of border security to make two "dirty bombs," the Government Accountability Office said in a March 28 report and in recent testimony before a congressional committee. The report said GAO agents ...
Higher Caliber of Technician Sought For Work on New Diesel Engines
Apr 03, 2006; ... SAN DIEGO - Truck renting and leasing companies said the growing shortage of vehicle technicians comes at a particularly troublesome time, as diesel engines are becoming increasingly complicated, mostly because of tougher emission standards that take effect in January and even tougher standards ...
Cost of Retail Diesel Slips 1.6¢ But Crude Rises to 8-Week High
Apr 03, 2006; ... U.S. retail fuel prices declined last week, at least temporarily halting the upward climb of recent months, as the national averages for diesel and gasoline both declined by small amounts, according to the Department of Energy. The diesel average dipped 1.6 cents a gallon to $2.565, ...
Carriers Expect Severe Delays As Chicago Fixes Expressway
Apr 03, 2006; ... Chicago's Dan Ryan Expressway, which carries 300,000 vehicles a day through Chicago's South Side, is scheduled to be narrowed to six lanes from 14, beginning April 1, for a two-year construction project truckers said would create significant delays. "Some of our members are thinking of ...
Federal Reserve Raises Key Interest Rate
Apr 03, 2006; ... The Federal Reserve voted March 28 to raise the benchmark interest rate a quarter-point to 4.75%, marking the 15th straight meeting dating to June 2004 in which the Fed raised rates a quarter-point. In other economic news: * Consumer confidence rose in March from a three-month ...
Eskew Says UPS May Rebuy Shares If It Cannot Find Acquisition Targets
Apr 03, 2006; ... UPS Inc. may buy back some of its shares if it can't find suitable acquisition targets, Chief Executive Officer Michael Eskew said. "Our first priority is to be able to make acquisitions," he said March 30 in an interview in Houston. "If we can't do that, a share buyback ...
Clarification
Apr 03, 2006; ... * The news article "Trucking Groups to Use Loans, Ads, in Bid to Boost Number of Drivers" (3-27, p. 31) should have said motor carriers ...
FMCSA to Further Examine Data From Truck Crash Causation Study
Apr 03, 2006; ... In the wake of a report last month on crashes involving large trucks, a spokesman for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said the agency plans to further examine the role legal drug use, drivers' hours of service and speed may play in such accidents. "We'll be doing further ...
Letters & Comments
Apr 03, 2006; ... Trucks, Cars, Crashes The March 27 headline loudly says: "New Study Faults Auto Drivers in 56% of Car-Truck Crashes." To be the devil's advocate, we are all supposed to be professionals, so the correct headline should have read: "A Shameful 44% of All Truck-Car Crashes Are the ...
An Industry Polices Itself
Apr 03, 2006; ... Along with the death of a loved one and divorce, moving ranks as one of life's most stressful events. That in itself is telling. Unfortunately, rogue movers can turn this already taxing event into a complete nightmare, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration receives 4,000 to 5,000 ...
Roadrunner Taps DiBlasi
Apr 03, 2006; ... Less-than-truckload firm Roadrunner Dawes Freight Systems Inc. said it named Mark DiBlasi president and chief operating officer. DiBlasi replaces Alan McBride, who is becoming vice chairman after 11 years as president. Roadrunner ranks No. 66 on the TRANSPORT TOPICS 100 list of the ...
Privatizing Roads To Increase, Financiers Say
Apr 03, 2006; ... The private development and leasing of U.S. toll roads, traditionally a public responsibility, presents opportunities and risks both for governments and for private investors, two financial firms reported. Fitch Ratings and Merrill Lynch & Co., in separate reports released in late ...
Sterling Truck Workers in Ontario End Strike
Apr 03, 2006; ... The 2,000 workers at the Sterling Truck plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, ended their 15-day strike March 25, a company spokesman told TRANSPORT TOPICS. Freightliner LLC spokeswoman Amy Sills told TT that Sterling is "extremely pleased the work stoppage is over and a new contract nas been ...
EARNINGS
Apr 03, 2006; ... Logistics US 1 Industries (OTC Bulletin Board: USOO), Gary, Ind., provides financial, information technology and risk and safety management services to logistics firms and warehousing and trucking companies in the intermodal, drayage, brokerage and heavyhaul segments of the ...
Manufacturers Unveil New Products, Services at MATS
Apr 03, 2006; ... Offerings Include Updated Steering Options, Climate-Control Systems, APU Advancements LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Truck manufacturers and equipment suppliers used the Mid-America Trucking Show here March 23-25 to announce a range of new products and services, including updated steering options, ...
GM Cuts Hundreds Of Salaried Workers
Apr 03, 2006; ... General Motors Corp., struggling with $10.6 billion in losses last year, started cutting hundreds of its U.S. salaried employees at about 30 of its locations in the United States, part of a North American restructuring plan. The firings March 28 were the first of staffing cuts that will ...
Market Insiders
Apr 03, 2006; ... * March 15 - Merritt Mott, a director at Landstar System, sold 15,000 shares from $46.01 to $46.37. * March 16 - Merritt Mott, a director at Landstar System, exercised options on 36,000 shares at $8.08 each, bringing his total holdings to 41,400 shares. * March 20 - Charles ...
TENNESSEE: 'Move Over' Law
Apr 03, 2006; ... BRIEFS NASHVILLE - The state trucking association is working to raise public awareness of Tennessee's "move over" traffic law, as some lawmakers seek to raise fines for violating the law to as much as $500 from $50. The law, enacted in 2004 to improve safety for emergency ...
FLEETS
Apr 03, 2006; ... Carriers Marten Transport, Ltd., Mondovi, Wis., recognized several drivers of the month for January. Marten is a refrigerated carrier. The company said it named the following drivers of the month: Ron Johnson, Ron and Charlotte Johnson, James Eutsler, Pete Needman, Paul Bendt, Ashley ...
New Century Recruits Luhrs To Lead Corporate Development
Apr 03, 2006; ... New Century Transportation, Westampton, N.J., appointed Rich Luhrs senior vice president of corporate development. New Century provides truckload and less-than-truckload services. The company said in a release that Luhrs' duties will include product development and execution of ...
British Ports Firm Declines Takeover Bid
Apr 03, 2006; ... A British ports company with operations in the United States rebuffed a $3.8 billion takeover bid Dy a consortium of investors. Associated British Ports, which said it owns 21 ports in the United Kingdom, declined a bid led by investment group Goldman Sachs, ...
Petro Says 2005 Earnings, Revenue Rise
Apr 03, 2006; ... Truck stop chain Petro Stopping Centers said March 28 it earned $16.1 million in 2005, compared with $4.9 million a year earlier. The chain's revenue rose 41.1% to $1.84 billion, it said in a statement. Petro said the revenue increase ...
OBITUARY: Walter Boyce, 81, Former President Of Birmingham, Ala., Traffic Club
Apr 03, 2006; ... Walter Boyce, former president of the Birmingham Traffic & Transportation Club in Birmingham, Ala., and long-time employee of the American Cast Iron Pipe Co., died March 22 in Mountain Brook, Tenn. He was 81. Boyce was born in Nashville, Tenn., and graduated from Vanderbilt ...
Tonnage Falls 2.5% in Feb.
Apr 03, 2006; ... Freight Decline Temporary, ATA Analyst Says The amount of freight moved by truck in the United States during February declined 2.5% from January, the largest month-to-month drop in a year, according to American Trucking Associations. As a result, ATA reported last week that its ...
Diesel Hits 5-Month High
Apr 10, 2006; ... Price Rises 5.2¢ to $2.617; Gasoline Jumps 9¢ The average U.S. retail price of diesel fuel rose to its highest level in nearly five months and gasoline surged last week as crude oil prices continued to climb, the Department of Energy reported. The cost of diesel averaged $2.617 a ...
Dearth of Available Equipment Leads Shippers to Get Their Own
Apr 10, 2006; ... TRAILERS A persistent shortage of freight-hauling capacity and the reluctance of many fleets to make trailers available for loading and unloading are leading shippers to use more of their own trailers to manage the distribution of their goods, trucking and trailer industry officials ...
FMCSA Still Without Leader After Sandberg's Departure
Apr 10, 2006; ... A week after Annette Sandberg's departure from the top spot at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, no replacement has been named. And several sources reported last week that her No. 2, Deputy Administrator Warren Hoemann, will soon also be leaving the ...
Truckers, Customers Resume Call for Longer, Heavier Trucks
Apr 10, 2006; ... ARLINGTON, Va. - Trucking industry leaders and shippers resumed their call for longer, heavier trucks on the interstate system, saying bigger vehicles will help ease the freight-capacity crunch without posing a safety problem. "Nineteen states now allow longer combination vehicles and ...
Transport Worker IDs to Debut By Year's End, DHS Official Says
Apr 10, 2006; ... An official with the Department of Homeland Security told a shipper group that the agency plans to introduce a single identification card for transportation workers later this year. Elaine Dezenski, acting assistant secretary for border and transportation security policy, said the agency ...
Pension Bill Not Expected to Pass Before Recess, Aide, Legislators Say
Apr 10, 2006; ... Disagreement over the role of credit ratings in determining the amount of employers' contributions to pension funds makes it unlikely lawmakers will be able to complete reform legislation before this month's two-week recess, congressional sources said. A House-Senate panel has been ...