Transport Topics back issues from March 2007:
DOT to Allow Mexican Trucks Into U.S. Under Pilot Program
Mar 05, 2007; ... EL PASO, Texas - Thirteen years after the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect with a provision opening truck traffic between the United States and Mexico, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced that Mexican trucks would be allowed for the first time to deliver to ...
Diesel Jumps 6¢ to $2.551
Mar 05, 2007; ... Average Is Highest Since Jan. 1; Gas Gains 8.7¢ A combination of cold winter weather and higher oil prices pushed the average retail price of diesel up 6 cents to $2.551 a gallon, its highest level since Jan. 1, and regular gasoline jumped 8.7 cents to $2.383 last week, the Department of ...
Class 8 Fleet Size Grows 5.2% In 2006 as Carriers Stock Up
Mar 05, 2007; ... The number of heavy-duty trucks in use in the United States increased 5.2% to 3.51 million Class 8 commercial vehicles last year, as fleet owners stocked up on new trucks and kept more old vehicles in service, market research firm R.L. Polk & Co. said. The upward climb in fleet size ...
Tonnage Continues Decline With 5% Drop in Jan.
Mar 05, 2007; ... Demand for freight hauling slid as the new year began, as American Trucking Associations said its truck tonnage index dropped by 3.6% in January from the month before and by 5% from the same month a year earlier. The preliminary January figure continues the trend from 2006, when tonnage ...
DOT Officials Express Interest in Study Of Heavier Trucks' Effect on Highways
Mar 05, 2007; ... OTAY MESA, Calif. - U.S. Department of Transportation officials said they would be interested in a potential study of larger or heavier trucks, suggested recently by the chairman of the House transportation committee. In interviews here with TRANSPORT TOPICS on Feb. 23, Mary Peters, DOT ...
Ontario Fuel Prices Surge After Shortages Caused By Refinery Fire, Railroad Strike
Mar 05, 2007; ... Motor fuel prices in Ontario are surging, and shortages are reported in parts of the province and in neighboring Quebec, as Canada's largest oil company struggles to resume production after a refinery fire. Imperial Oil spokesman Gordon Wong told TRANSPORT TOPICS the Feb. 15 fire at its ...
Let Private Sector Build, Run Toll Roads, California Gov. Schwarzenegger Says
Mar 05, 2007; ... WASHINGTON - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said the construction and operation of new toll facilities in his state are tasks best left to the private sector. "We are encouraging public-private partnerships," Schwarzenegger told the audience at a National Press Club luncheon ...
Allied Holdings Expects to File Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan
Mar 05, 2007; ... Officials at Allied Holdings Inc., the nations largest auto hauler, were expected to file a bankruptcy reorganization plan March 2 that would give control of the company to Yucaipa Cos., an investment firm that holds a majority of Allied's unsecured debt and has close ties to organized ...
House Panel Approves Extension of SSRS
Mar 05, 2007; ... The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a measure March 1 that would extend the Single State Registration System through the end of 2007. The committee s correction bill also alters a number of earmarked projects that were ...
Celadon Buys Warrior Xpress for $8.3 Million
Mar 05, 2007; ... Truckload carrier Celadon Group said Feb. 28 it purchased the assets and business of truckload carrier Warrior Xpress for about $8.3 million. Warrior, Charles City, Va., generated about $20 million in revenue last year, Celadon said. It runs about 150 trucks and 350 trailers, according ...
Railroads, Unions Reach Tentative Deal
Mar 05, 2007; ... U.S. railroads last week reached a tentative five-year contract with seven unions representing 66,000 workers - nearly half the industry's employees. The deal covers more than 30 railroads, including Union Pacific Corp. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., and seven ...
Ex-Macquarie Exec Picked for DOT Post
Mar 05, 2007; ... D.J. Gribbin, former director of Macquarie Holdings USA, has been nominated by President Bush to be the Transportation Departments general counsel. Gribbin was an advocate of public-private partnerships while ...
Canada Suspends Cross-Border Fee
Mar 05, 2007; ... The Canadian government has suspended a fee assessed to Canadian carriers bringing their trucks and trailers that are based in the United States across the border, the Canadian Trucking Association said. The suspension will continue until the Canadian government crafts legislation to ...
DOT Issues Daylight-Saving Time Reminder
Mar 05, 2007; ... The Department of Transportation issued a reminder that starting in 2007, daylight-saving time will begin three ...
EPA to Issue SCR Guidance, Meet With OEMs on 2010
Mar 05, 2007; ... The Environmental Protection Agency said it would soon issue its guidance for engine manufacturers on the conditions they must meet in order to sell engines that use selective catalytic reduction to meet emission regulations. Karl Simon, director of EPAs compliance and innovative ...
DHS Says Security Won't Lessen When Trucks Enter From Mexico
Mar 05, 2007; ... EL PASO, Texas - The Transportation Department's pilot project allowing a limited number of Mexican carriers to access U.S. highways would not diminish security at the border, Michael Jackson, deputy secretary of Homeland Security, said at a Feb. 23 press conference. He also said the ...
Sen. Murray Sets Hearing on Border Plan As Opponents Question Effect on Safety
Mar 05, 2007; ... WASHINGTON - Advocacy groups and congressional leaders, citing safety concerns, questioned the Department of Transportation's decision to allow Mexican trucks into the United States, and a key senator said she would hold a hearing on the issue. On Feb. 23, Transportation secretary Mary ...
Fleets Face Few Hurdles With New Power Plants
Mar 05, 2007; ... ENGINE MANAGEMENT As the trucking industry shifts to the next generation of low-emission diesel engines, some fleet maintenance managers said they have experienced few problems with the transition, which presents maintenance adjustments for heavyduty and medium-duty trucks ...
Sen. Murray Criticizes DOT Over Mexican Truck Plan
Mar 12, 2007; ... WASHINGTON - Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), author of the rules Congress set for opening the U.S. border to Mexican trucks, told Transportation Secretary Mary Peters she suspected the agency may be stacking the deck in its recently announced pilot program. Murray, chairwoman of the key ...
Ore. Nonprofit Group Opens Showroom Featuring 'Green' Technology for Trucks
Mar 05, 2007; ... Cascade Sierra Solutions, a nonprofit group that promotes the sale of products to help truck drivers save fuel and reduce emissions, said it has opened the first of what could be as many as eight "green truck technology" showrooms along the Interstate 5 corridor in Oregon, Washington and ...
DaimlerChrysler Eyes Profit In '07 Despite Drop in Sales
Mar 05, 2007; ... DaimlerChrysler AG, the world's largest truck maker, expects the heavy-truck division, including its Freightliner unit, to remain profitable in 2007, even as sales plunge in the United States and Japan. "Even with this massive decline in heavy trucks in the U.S. of 40%, we will remain ...
The Waggoners Settles Suit Involving Software Usage
Mar 05, 2007; ... The Waggoners Trucking, a vehicle hauler Dased in Billings, Mont., said it paid $300,000 to a group that protects software copyrights to settle claims it used unlicensed copies of several popular applications. The Business Software Alliance said it received a complaint alleging The ...
Va. Assembly Passes Road Bill; Gov. Says Plan Has 'Problems'
Mar 05, 2007; ... RICHMOND, Va. - A Republican-authored transportation package passed the Virginia General Assembly, winning passage narrowly in a pivotal Senate vote and overwhelmingly in the House during the 2007 General Assembly's final hours Feb. 24. The Senate approved the measure - and the $2.5 ...
Opening the U.S.-Mexico Border
Mar 05, 2007; ... The Department of Transportation's move to conduct a broad test of opening the U.S.-Mexican border to truck traffic is a prudent step toward honoring mutual commitments made by both nations when the North American Free Trade Agreement was ratified. We have long supported the goal of open ...
Letters & Comments
Mar 05, 2007; ... Editorial Questioned According to your editorial, the trucking industry should be out of business (2-19, p. 6). You have either misquoted or made a mistake. Your statement was: "Truckers used to buy vehicles that got 10 miles per gallon. Today, with the addition of the clean-air ...
Privatization: Easy Money, But Bleak Results
Mar 05, 2007; ... Wall Street's scheme of enticing states to lease existing highways to private investors is the government version or the payday loan. The money they will get upfront seems great, but citizens will pay for it many times over down the road. The state of Indiana and the city of Chicago ...
Navistar Told to Resume Production for Ford, Gets Court Date
Mar 05, 2007; ... Navistar International Corp. has been ordered to continue making medium-duty engines for Ford Motor Co., at least temporarily, and the two manufacturers are scheduled to meet in a Michigan state court March 7 to resolve aspects of their dispute. Navistar, which is the parent company of ...
UPS, Airbus Have Right to Cancel Contract for Planes
Mar 05, 2007; ... Package delivery firm UPS Inc. and plane maker Airbus SAS agreed that either company can cancel an order this year for 10 A380 freighters after repeated production delays. UPS will decide whether to retain the $2.8 billion order after getting new delivery dates from Airbus, UPS spokesman ...
Dickinson Launches New Online Fleet Maintenance Tool
Mar 05, 2007; ... Dickinson Fleet Services said last month it launched a new online service to help fleets track maintenance. The service, Webwrench, allows fleets to access preventive maintenance information on a real-time basis, said Ted Coltrain, Dickinsons vice president. Fleets are paying closer ...
Arizona Farmers Object to Rail Route to Mexico
Mar 05, 2007; ... PHOENIX - A proposed new Mexican seaport could provide Union Pacific Railroad with a major business opportunity - trainloads of shipping containers of imported goods to haul to points across the United States. But southwestern Arizona farmers say that opportunity for Union Pacific could ...
IANA and T-Chek In Deal to Offer Fuel Cards
Mar 05, 2007; ... The Intermodal Association of North America has started a fuel card program for its members through an agreement with T-Chek Systems. Under the program, IANA members who sign up for the program will get a T-Chek card that can De used at more than 6,000 truck stops in the United States ...
Market Trends
Mar 05, 2007; ... * Feb. 22 - Saia Inc. was rated "buy" in new coverage by David Ross at Stifel Nicolaus. The target price is $31 a share. * Feb ....
Market Insiders
Mar 05, 2007; ... * Feb. 14 - James Wang, president of the Asia division at Expeditors International of Washington, sold 400,000 shares from $43.81 to $44.12 each, leaving him with 152,416 shares. * Feb. 15 - Daniel Churay, a vice president at YRC Worldwide Inc., sold 229 shares for $46.06 each, leaving ...
EARNINGS
Mar 05, 2007; ... Truckload Universal Truckload Services (Nasdaq: UACL), based in Warren, Mich., is primarily a non-asset-based provider of transportation services in the truckload, brokerage and intermodal sectors. Its over-the-road trucking division includes flatbed and dry van operations supported by a ...
FCL Launches New Service For Exporters
Mar 05, 2007; ... Belgian container firm FCL Carrier said it started a new service for U.S. firms that send goods overseas. The service will allow companies to use a container service to send freight to numerous countries, including Russia, India and China. FCL's services include breakbulk, ...
Towne Air Announces Acquisition
Mar 05, 2007; ... Air cargo firm Towne Air Freight said it acquired Complete Transport Services, Hazelwood, Mo. for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition adds three full-service terminals to Towne Air's network, the company said. Towne Air, based in ...
Brightpoint Plans Merger With Dangaard
Mar 05, 2007; ... Brightpoint Inc., which distributes cellphones to the logistics industry and other sectors, said it signed an agreement to acquire Danish firm Dangaard Telecom. Brightpoint, Plainfield, Ind., said the deal will create a company with combined annual revenue of $4 billion. The ...
TCA to Focus on Driver Recruitment, Retention at Its Annual Convention
Mar 05, 2007; ... Driver recruiting and retention will be a key focus of the Truckload Carriers Association's 2007 annual convention, scheduled for March 11-14 in Las Vegas. The work of TCA members helps the entire trucking industry grow, "while making our highways safer through better equipment and ...
ABA Transportation Conference Is Set For March 8-9
Mar 05, 2007; ... While advancements in technology offer fleet managers opportunities to increase operational efficiency, they also can create a minefield of legal liability. Minimizing that danger will play a large role in discussions at the American Bar Association's Transportation MegaConference, one of the ...
Colo. Chain Bill Stalls; Truckers' Fines Would Double
Mar 05, 2007; ... A bill that would have stiffened penalties for truckers who violate Colorado's chain laws has stalled in the state s House of Representatives. The Colorado Department of Transportation requires commercial vehicles be equipped with chains "any time there is snow covering the entire ...
ARKANSAS: Seat Belt Law
Mar 05, 2007; ... BRIEF A bill introduced in the Arkansas state Senate that would make failure to use a seat belt a primary offense drew support from the state s attorney general. "It is something we can prevent; it is something we can reduce," Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said of ...
Ryder Elects Nieto To Board of Directors
Mar 05, 2007; ... Truck and trailer leasing firm Ryder System, Miami, elected Luis Nieto Jr. to its board of directors. Nieto is president of the Refrigerated Foods Group of ConAgra Foods. Before he joined ConAgra, Nieto was president and chief executive officer of the Federated Group, a private label ...
Innovative Promotes Williams to VP; Names Sales, Marketing Directors
Mar 05, 2007; ... Innovative Computing Corp., a Brentwood, Tenn., company that provides software to truckload carriers, has promoted ToAnne Williams to vice president of sales, Maria Grant to director of sales and Jennifer McQuiston to director of marketing. Williams will oversee the continued growth and ...
Roadrunner Dawes Appoints Dobak Sales, Marketing VP
Mar 05, 2007; ... Less-than-truckload carrier Roadrunner Dawes Freight Systems Inc., Cudahy, Wis., appointed Scott Dobak vice president of sales and marketing. Dobak most recently was vice president of corporate sales for Yellow ...
PEOPLE: BRIEFS
Mar 05, 2007; ... Carriers Old Dominion, a Thomasville, N.C., less-than-truckload carrier, promoted Wayne Bersch to director of container operations and recruiting. Bersch joined Old Dominion in July as a logistics manager and was responsible for the carrier's Dell account. Before working for Old ...
FLEETS: BRIEFS
Mar 05, 2007; ... Carriers Tank truck carrier CLI Transport, claysburg, Pa., announced its 2006 Drivers of the Year: Troy Myers, Tony Jacobs, Tony Mann, James Greenawald, Dennis Anderson, Brian Saunders and Randy Stanley. Refrigerated truckload carrier WSE Transportation, Elm Springs, Ark., ...
MCT Honors Its Million-Milers
Mar 05, 2007; ... Truckload carrier MCT Transportation, Sioux Falls, S.D., recognized 24 of its independent contractors for reaching safe-driving milestones. Daniel Norgaard, a contractor from South Dakota, has driven 3 million miles without an accident. Norgaard has earned several first-place awards in ...
EVENTS: BRIEFS
Mar 05, 2007; ... Calendar March 7-9 - National Truck Equipment Association, The Work Truck Show 2007, Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome, Indianapolis. (248-489-7090) March 7-9 - Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, SCRA Specialized Transportation Symposium, Walt Disney's Coronado ...
Crane Offers $1.2 Billion for EGL Inc. In 2nd Attempt to Buy Out Forwarder
Mar 05, 2007; ... James Crane, chief executive officer of freight forwarder and logistics firm EGL Inc., who lost his equity sponsor for a $1.2 billion buyout bia, announced a fresh offer Feb. 28 to take the company he founded private with two new investors. The $36-a-share offer backed by Centerbridge ...
Volkswagen Increases Stake in MAN AG
Mar 05, 2007; ... Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest carmaker, increased its holding in MAN AG to 29.9% as part of an effort to create Europe's largest truck maker in a three-way combination that includes Swedish competitor Scania AB. The carmaker, which raised the stake from about 20%, expects "high synergy ...
Volvo to Buy Road-Building Equipment Unit
Mar 05, 2007; ... Volvo AB, the world's No. 2 truck maker, agreed to buy Ingersoll Rand Co.'s road-building equipment unit for $1.3 billion in cash to become the world's third-largest maker of construction equipment. "What we are adding here is compactors, pavers and milling equipment, which makes us a ...
Clinton Seeks Energy Fund From Oil Profits
Mar 05, 2007; ... Sen. Hillarv Clinton (D-N.Y.) called for a $50 billion strategic energy funcf to boost research and investment in alternative energy technologies, using money raised by imposing fees on oil company profits. The legislation would eliminate oil company tax breaks and assure royalty ...
U.S. Exports Rise 18% Under CAFTA
Mar 05, 2007; ... U.S. exports to four Central American countries grew more than 18% last year after the Bush administration began a freetrade agreement with those nations. Imports were unchanged as textile trade lagged. The growth in trade was heralded by President Bush just two days before the first ...
EU: WTO Breakthrough Before June Is Vital
Mar 05, 2007; ... A breakthrough in stalled world-trade talks before President Bush's trade negotiating authority expires in June is "vital," European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said. Some Democratic senators have said they will oppose renewing Bush's authority for a free hand in trade ...
Fuel Prices Continue Climb
Mar 12, 2007; ... Diesel Average Gains 7.5¢, Gasoline Rises 12.2¢ The average retail price of diesel rose 7.5 cents to $2.626 a gallon, and gasoline soared 12.2 cents to $2.505 last week, as the fuels reached levels not seen since the middle of September. Diesel has increased 13.5 cents over the ...
EPA Proposes Emission Cuts For Train and Marine Engines
Mar 12, 2007; ... The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed for the first time sharp cuts in exhaust emissions from railroad locomotive and marine engines in a plan a spokesman said would "follow exactly the same pattern" as environmental regulations for truck engines. EPA regulations have cut ...
New Hill Faces Emerge After November Shake-up
Mar 12, 2007; ... TRANSPORTATION WHO'S WHO WASHINGTON - After more than a decade in the minority and the past six years relegated to near-obscurity behind a powerful Republican majority and a Republican White House Democrats swept into power in November, capturing both houses of Congress. The ...
International Holds Ceremony To Deliver First ProStar Tractor
Mar 12, 2007; ... CHATHAM, Ontario - International Truck and Engine Corp. delivered the first ProStar Class 8 tractor to a customer at its manufacturing plant here on March 1, as the workers who built the vehicle cheered. The keys to the sleek, white truck were presented to an executive of USFoodservice, ...
Economic Growth Expected to Slow Down Over Next 2 Years, NAM Economist Says
Mar 12, 2007; ... ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The U.S. economy should continue to grow over the next two years but at a slower pace, said David Huether, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers. Helping to boost business activity - and thus, demand for freight hauling - are investments in ...
New Trucks, Engines to Be Featured At 2007 Mid-America Trucking Show
Mar 12, 2007; ... Truck buyers and manufacturers are set to gather in Louisville, Ky., March 22-24 for the first Mid-America Trucking Show since the adoption of federal rules tightening emissions levels on diesel engines. Exhibit Management Associates, which owns and operates the largest heavy-duty U.S ....
USF Holland's Zimmerman Resigns
Mar 12, 2007; ... Robert Zimmerman, president of less-than-truckload carrier USF Holland since June 2005, has resigned and was replaced by John O'Sulivan, an executive of USF Holland told TRANSPORT TOPICS on March 8. O'SuIlivan is chief financial officer ...
Bailey Named President of Boyd Bros.
Mar 12, 2007; ... Richard Bailey was promoted to president of flatbed truckload carrier Boyd Bros. Transportation Co., the company said last week. Bailey has been with Boyd for 14 years and most recently served as the company's chief operating officer and chief ...
Navistar to Resume Shipments to Ford
Mar 12, 2007; ... Navistar International Corp. on March 8 said it would resume shipments of medium-duty engines to Ford Motor Co. while a Michigan court considers their dispute. Navistar said the agreement requires Ford to pay for the engines without making any price deductions. It also requires officers ...
Fed 'Beige Book' Cites Mixed Trucking Picture
Mar 12, 2007; ... The Federal Reserve reported regional slowdowns in trucking at the start of the year, according to the latest "beige book" survey of economic conditions released on March 7. The Fed said heavy-duty truck production in the Chicago region "remained solid but was expected to trail off, ...
Intermodal Rail Traffic Rises 8.6% for Week
Mar 12, 2007; ... Rail intermodal traffic rose 8.6% for the week ended March 3, but carload traffic continued a downward trend by falling 5%, the Association of American Railroads said. Intermodal volume totaled ...