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Demonstrators Protest High-Cost of Diesel Oil

The problem was attributed by Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader Paul Kelly to increasing OPEC prices and trouble navigating oil ships through Providence channel. Because the problem centers on New England, it is getting less attention than the 1970s energy crisis, said Kevin Rabbitt of Massachusetts' Rabbitt Trucking. Round-trip costs between New Jersey and Rhode Island have gone up 100%, said a New Jersey driver.

Truck Stop Business Drops as Many Sideline Their Rigs

At Hanscom's on Route 1 in Portsmouth, where only one truck fueled up one recent morning as opposed to the line of rigs the stop usually sees, general manager Dana Joy said trucks' operating costs have not been this high during his 26 years in the industry. He and general manager Kevin Dailey of the Travelport in Greenland both agreed that consumer prices will rise, although Dailey said right now most people outside the trucking world are mostly concerned with the price of heating oil.

Jolly Gardener Products, in Portland, has been getting only two trucks hauling bark mulch from Canada each day, as opposed to the 36 a day that is usual. Sales at Dailey's truck stop have gone down 30%, and truckers are putting less gas in their rigs as well. The Travelport has lately been issuing only half its usual amount of permits for hauling freight to Maine, and sales of all its other products are dropping as well.

Many truckers expect independents to strike if the prices stay so high. Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.) Online (02/09/00); Dekoning, Brian

That Trucker May Be Watching Your Driving

The program, in which the trucker's report will be sufficient to allow officers to pull over violators, will be tested in coming months on Interstate 35 from Fairbault to the Iowa line and could go statewide if successful.

Although drivers have long made road reports by calling 911, these truckers will be taught to make proper reports, given identification numbers to flag their calls as important, and be witnesses in court when needed. Minneapolis Star Tribune Online (02/10/00) ; Blake, Laurie

AAA Begins Campaign to Reject Gas Tax

The auto club's Oregon/Idaho chapter says the tax changes, passed by the legislature but put on the May ballot by an AAA petition, will give truckers from outside Oregon substantial tax breaks while moving trucks' share of road costs to motorists. But the trucking, business, union, and local government coalition Fair Funding for Better Roads disagrees.

According to a Legislative Revenue Office report, an extra $458 million in car taxes and fees – and $245 million from trucks – would be collected through 2005 if the measure passes. In the first two years, 80,000 pound trucks would be paying in excess of its share of road costs while trucks over 100,000 pounds would pay less, with trucks overall paying some $72 million more. Oregon Live Online (02/10/00)

Volvo May Have to Sell Assets to Win Scania Deal

Volvo is also in acquisition or collaboration discussions with Czech truck manufacturer and engineering group Tatra, it was learned Wednesday.

Volvo's offer to divest some Scandinavian dealerships might be inadequate; analysts predict Volvo will need to get rid of its 37% share of car and truck distributor Bilia, and perhaps some

xclusivity deals Volvo and Scania have with Nordic dealers will have to terminate. Financial Times (02/10/00) P. 32; Brown-Humes, Christopher; Hargreaves, Deborah

Interview: DaimlerChrysler Prepared to Develop Asia Trucks Op Alone

The company remains interested in discussions with Nissan Diesel Motor but wants to sit down with other Japanese firms as well, although the debt troubles at Nissan Diesel and existing partnerships between Japanese automotive firms create hurdles. The Chinese market is also important and could be bigger, but "truck prices and infrastructure" there pose a problem," he said.

With "few potential partners" and many companies seeking Asian partners, DaimlerChrysler will have to investigate organic growth, partnerships, and all other options, Maier said. AFX-Asia (02/09/00)

KLLM Transport Posts Strong Earnings Growth for Fourth Quarter

FY99 net loss was $792,000 (19 cents a share), including a $247,000 non-recurring charge, down from $1.8 million (42 cents a share) the previous year, with operating revenue rising to $234.6 million.

With continued strong demand as well as tight capacity for temperature-controlled transportation, the company is "aggressively pursuing rate increases while continuing to focus on cost control," said Chairman and CEO Jack Liles. Associated Press (02/09/00); Moore, Matt

Truck Drivers Want Ontario to Provide Roadside Rest Areas

Parking on highway shoulders is dangerous, truck stops discourage lengthy parking, and shopping mall lots can also not be used, he said. Ontario should look at the accommodations at U.S. rest areas, which can be found at two- to four-hour intervals on major highways, the Forum says.

Nine-tenths of foodstuffs and consumer products in Canada and four-fifths of trade between the United States and Ontario is carried by truck, and truck volume is predicted to rise. The petition is being circulated at truck stops and is available from the OTA or at . M2 Presswire (02/09/00)

Boyd Bros. Revenues Rise 13% in 1999

President and CEO W. Miller Welborn said second-half operations were disappointing, with fuel costs making an impact and the owner-operator program failing to make "the kind of progress in 1999 as we had intended." The company expects the continuing rise in fuel costs and the normally slow first quarter to put first-quarter revenues and profits "under pressure." TruckingInfo.com (02/09/00)

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