ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

Oregon voters overwhelmingly defeated a ballot measure that would have repealed the state’s weight-distance tax on trucks, added a diesel fuel tax and increased the state tax on gasoline.

In the multi-million dollar advertising war over Measure 82 that pitted Oregon Trucking Associations against the American Automobile Association of Oregon and Idaho, the truckers expected to fight the auto club’s deep pockets. But funds opposing a weight-distance tax repeal also came from an unexpected source.

The National Tank Truck Carriers Association declined to take a formal vote May 17 on its future relationship with American Trucking Associations, hoping that time will allow the two groups to retain close relations.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the federal government can alter the hours of service to require more time off for truckers, but drivers will not be able to stop and sleep unless a solution is found for the shortage of parking spaces for commercial vehicles in some areas.

Vermont is a governor’s signature away from opening up much of the state to 53-foot trailers, ending an often bitter battle that pitted one community against another.

Trucking and transportation are a good, small example of why Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is worried about the economy at large.

The average price of diesel fuel rose 1.3 cents a gallon last week, gaining back half of the decline posted in the previous two weeks.

Trucking is proud to support the nation’s drive for cleaner air.

According to the Wall Street Journal of May 1, Norfolk Southern Corp. has suggested that the Commonwealth of Virginia kick in a share of the $900 million it will take to add a second track to the railroad line that parallels Interstate 81.

Global positioning systems will be 10 times more precise now that the Clinton administration has decided to unscramble satellite signals that had been reserved for military applications.