A.M. Executive Briefing - Nov. 19
This Morning's Headlines:
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Picket Line at Overnite Grows Tense With Reports of Violence
In this week alone, police in Little Rock, Ark., received three calls to the local Overnite Transportation terminal, which has been picketed by Teamsters members since Oct. 24. Union local assistant business manager Ron Heath said he was going to request a warrant from the county prosecutor for an employee at Davis Transfer, which has been handling Overnite cargo during the strike, who Teamsters claim attempted to hit strikers with a pickup truck.On Thursday, the police received a call from Overnite workers who said a striker threatened to shoot an Overnite driver. A security guard told police Tuesday that someone had put nails at the terminal's entrance, causing tire damage to a car. Heath claimed that Overnite is filing false reports. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Online (11/19/99) ; Lovel, Jim
CN Rail Boss Starts Drive for Tax Equity
Canadian National Railway President and CEO Paul Tellier said to the Ontario Trucking Association's convention Thursday that Canada needs a transportation policy for the entire country and the disparity in taxes between trucking and rail needs to be addressed.Taxes take 10% of trucking gross revenue and 14% of railroad gross revenue, he said, adding, "Our taxes help pay for your infrastructure." If the situation with taxes and regulations is changed, he said, truckers would benefit from less highway traffic and railroads would benefit from higher density. Calgary Sun (11/19/99) P. 55
Proposed Center Could Be Ready by Late 2000
McClain County, Okla., is planning a processing center along I-35 for Nafta trade only; the county is working on a feasibility study backed by government grants. The proposed center might be in operation late next year. Centers planned for Kansas City, San Antonio, and Des Moines, Iowa, would also be devoted completely to Nafta trade. Associated Press (11/19/99)UPS Board Sets Regular Dividend
United Parcel Service's board of directors said a 30 cents per share regular cash dividend will be paid Jan. 7 to holders of Class A and Class B stock as of Nov. 29. UPS saw a 9% year-over-year gain in third-quarter revenue, to $6.7 billion, and a 28.5% year-over-year gain in third-quarter net income, to $577 million.The company, which placed 109.4 million Class B shares in its Nov. 10 IPO, has recently given dividends twice a year; this is the second for 1999. PR Newswire (11/18/99)
Officials: Parkway Span May Be Closed for Weeks
Southbound trucks using the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey were being detoured onto Route 52 between Exit 30 and Exit 25 Wednesday after the Great Egg Harbor Bridge was shut down Tuesday due to wind. The span, which handles southbound traffic only, might be shut down as much as six weeks due to a support-system crack, according to state police. Officials are working on a way to send both northbound and southbound traffic across the northbound span. Associated Press (11/18/99)BGA to Sue Ryan Aides in License Scheme
The Better Government Association intends lawsuits against people who served as officials in Illinois Gov. George Ryan's political campaign, saying the campaign benefited from alleged bribery at truck driver licensing sites when Ryan was secretary of state. Public safety was put in danger due to the alleged schemes, the BGA claimed.There have been 13 convictions in the federal investigation into the matter. According to prosecutors, the number of truckers who bought their licenses is at least in the triple digits, and employees were pushed to get people to buy fundraising tickets. Chicago Sun-Times (11/18/99) P. 10; Simpson, Cam
Two Arrested in Connection with Thefts of Trucks, Equipment
On Thursday, authorities arrested two men and made over $100,000 worth of seizures in connection with tractor-trailer, equipment, and other thefts around Connecticut. One of the men, 39-year-old Rocky Hill resident Walter Oleski, had an outstanding warrant related to a March payloader theft, was given two charges; various stolen items including a truck were discovered at Oleski Construction, according to police. There will probably be further arrests. Associated Press (11/18/99)© copyright 1999 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
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