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December 22, 1999 11:22 AM, EST

Landstar System installed G. Tom Beam as president of its Landstar Ligon subsidiary, taking the first step in what is expected to be a concerted effort by Landstar management to reverse a proposed unsatisfactory safety rating by the Department of Transportation.

Beam replaces Joe Fitzgerald, who remains at Landstar Ligon as vice president of field operations. Beam joined Landstar Ligon in 1993 as vice president of finance. He previously worked at PepsiCo Inc. and NTC of America.

A Landstar spokeswoman declined to comment on reports that other key managers at Landstar Ligon have been fired or demoted. Landstar also has refused to discuss the reasons for the unsatisfactory rating, although one investment analyst has said he thinks the company was cited for falsification of driver logs ("Landstar Works to Undo Rating," 12-6, p. 3).

Landstar President Jeffrey C. Crowe has said the company will submit a corrective action plan to DOT in the hope of getting Landstar Ligon’s safety rating upgraded to conditional or satisfactory before the proposed rating takes effect.

For the full story, see the Dec. 20 print edition of Transport Topics. .