P.M. Executive Briefing - Aug. 28
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DaimlerChrysler Extends Tender Offer for Detroit Diesel Shares
DaimlerChrysler has extended its $23 per share tender offer for all outstanding shares of engine maker Detroit Diesel Corp., the vehicle-making giant announced Monday.The tender offer, as extended, will expire at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11. As of Aug. 25, 17,755,953 shares of Detroit Diesel common stock had been tendered, which combined with DaimlerChrysler's current holdings equals 98% of the outstanding stock.
The purchase of Detroit Diesel, along with DaimlerChrysler's current holdings of Freightliner, Sterling and the pending Western Star purchase, strengthen DaimlerChrysler's hold in the commercial vehicle market.
Trinity Industries Picks ProCert for Licensing and Registration
ProCert Inc. announced Monday that Trinity Industries Transportation Division has signed an agreement for ProCert to provide interstate vehicle licensing and registration.The agreement will cover Trinity's 400 power units and 800 trailers, the announcement said.
ProCert is a consulting and administrative services provider for the trucking industry, and handles licensing, fuel tax reporting, titling, audit support and some tax form filings. Transport Topics
Drivers Still Sought By Werner, But 100 Other Positions Being Cut
While Werner Enterprises continues to try to hire more truck drivers, it will eliminate nearly 100 other positions nationwide in a cost-cutting effort, the Omaha World-Herald reported this weekend.Like many other trucking and related companies, Werner has been affected by surging fuel costs, and the layoffs are meant to help reduce operating costs, the article said.
Since Werner still needs drivers, some of the employees who lost other positions and previously drove a truck have gone back to that, the newspaper added said. Transport Topics
Medina, Ohio, Wants To Re-Route Big Rigs Past Downtown
Medina, Ohio councilman Robert Mehling is working on an ordinance that would allow tractor-trailers to operate on the city's East Reagan Parkway, which he hopes will then reduce truck traffic downtown, the (Cleveland) Plain-Dealer reported this weekend.Medina is located southwest of Cleveland, and the East Reagan Parkway connects major arteries U.S. 42 and Ohio 3 on Medina's northeast side.
Truck traffic was banned on the parkway through a measure on the 1996 city ballot, which also banned trucks on 42 other Medina streets, the article said. Mehling, however, told the Plain-Dealer he wants to overturn the ban to reduce truck traffic in downtown Medina, which features some structures from the 19th century. Transport Topics
General Motors To Work On Reducing California Smog From Diesel
General Motors has announced it will introduce cleaner fuel alternatives for several types of vehicles in an attempt to reduce southern California's smog, the Associated Press reports.GM will spend $2.5 million on pollution-busting efforts such as reducing emissions from diesel school buses and research alternative fuels in trains and other vehicles, the arti-cle said. That company and several others are looking to cleaner-burning diesel fuel in heavy-duty vehicles as a less costly way to reduce smog, rather than developing fleet vehicles to run on natural gas or other alternative fuels, according to AP.
Efforts such as these can be good news for diesel truck makers and users, as the trucking industry also seeks to cut down on emissions. Innovations on bus engines can pave the way for some commercial truck applications, and curbing emissions from bus fleets and trains can reduce the total smog from diesel use. Transport Topics
BillBoard Video To Give Refueling Truckers an Eyeful
Coming soon to a gasoline pump near you …It may not be the latest box office smash, but BillBoard Video will be providing video – advertising, that is – to 137 Pilot travel plazas nationwide, the company announced Monday. Pilot has 180 travel centers in 37 states, and sells 8% of the nation's diesel fuel to the trucking industry.
Using wireless technology and the Internet, BillBoard Video will provide full-motion, location-specific advertisements through an Integrated Media Displayâ„¢ at Pilot's gasoline pumps. Transport Topics
Sale of PLM's Trailer Leasing Okayed
A majority of outstanding shareholders of PLM International voted to approve the proposed sale of PLM International's trailer leasing operations to Marubeni America Corp., the company announced Monday.The agreement, from May 24, is for Marubeni to buy PLM's 4,000-plus trailer leasing operation, the announcement said.
PLM also manages a portfolio of over $800 million of transportation and related equipment for approximately 60,000 investors. Transport Topics
"Click It or Ticket" Also Comes To North Carolina Roads
Look for more patrol officers on North Carolina roads for a few weeks as part of a safety program.That state's law enforcement officials and highway safety advocates launched North Carolina's own "Click It or Ticket" campaign Monday to boost use of seat belts, at a rally in Raleigh, the state capital.
The campaign will run until Sept. 17 and include stepped-up efforts to enforce seat belt and child restraint laws. During a spring "Click It or Ticket" campaign, many regions saw a significant increase in seat belt usage, said a state hihway safety official.
Another "Click It or Ticket" campaign will run through the Labor Day weekend in Michigan. Transport Topics
Headlines From Today's A.M. Breifing
- Gas Prices Go Back Up After Nine-Week Drop
- Police Raid Mitsubishi's Tokyo Office
- Overcrowding, Noise Causes St. Louis Airport To Turn Away Cargo Customers
- Air Canada, Pilots Reach Tentative Accord
- Old Dominion Says It May Have To Relocate Greensboro, N.C. Hub
- Ford Turns To Information Highway To Get Its Vehicles On The Highway
- FAA To Conduct Study on Possible Louisiana Cargo Airport
- Michigan Warns: "Click It or Ticket" Come Labor Day Weekend