Trucking News - November 2003
Our news is provided as a courtesy Of OOIDA / Land Line Magazine
Used with permission. Unauthorized Use or Duplication Is Prohibited
Used with permission. Unauthorized Use or Duplication Is Prohibited
Charlotte, NC, was most popular move destination in 2002
11/01/2003 - 8:21:06 am - The American Moving and Storage Association, the national trade association representing moving and storage companies, has just released its mobility study results for ...
Terrorist scare turns into witch hunt
11/01/2003 - 8:23:10 am - A massive security alert at the heart of the U.S. government was triggered Oct. 30 by a Halloween costume, police have revealed. As if on broomsticks, armed ...
Bank considers giving away toll transponders
11/01/2003 - 8:24:56 am - Citizens Bank, which recently took over sponsorship of the Massachusetts Turnpike`s Fast Lane electronic toll program, is considering a program to give away free toll ...
Oklahoma official says state needs more road money
11/01/2003 - 8:26:01 am - An Oklahoma transportation official said the state may have to consider new taxes - including increases in fuel taxes - to bring its roads up to snuff, The Norman ...
OOIDA members honored by HHG company
11/01/2003 - 8:27:56 am - Two OOIDA members were among seven household goods drivers honored by The Bekins Co. as Drivers of the Year. The awards were presented to one driver from each of the ...
Snowstorm strikes northern Rockies
11/01/2003 - 8:31:34 am - A deadly storm struck the northern Rocky Mountain region, dropping heavy snow and freezing rain, causing dozens of highway collisions, The Associated Press reported ...
Traffic light changers against the law in Michigan, agency says
11/01/2003 - 8:32:53 am - Infrared traffic-signal controllers sold over the Internet are illegal in Michigan, the state`s Department of Transportation announced recently. The devices ...
New Jersey Turnpike to pay for new officers
11/01/2003 - 8:33:45 am - The agency that operates toll roads in New Jersey will pay to train 100 new highway patrol officers in an effort to increase the number of law-enforcement personnel on the ...
Students, educated professionals most dangerous on road, study says
11/01/2003 - 8:40:40 am - Which professions and occupations produce the most accident-prone speeders and aggressive drivers? Quality Planning Corp. recently shed some light on the subject ...
TWIC being tested in Philadelphia and Los Angeles
11/01/2003 - 8:41:00 am - A top Homeland Security official acknowledged it is nearly impossible to police goods made in foreign countries before they arrive at ports to be shipped to the United States, ...
ACLU targets system that would collect information on all drivers
11/01/2003 - 8:41:30 am - A system that collects all publicly available information on drivers into a single, searchable database has collected a new opponent - the American Civil Liberties Union ...
Pennsylvania Senate approves trooper discipline bill
11/04/2003 - 10:23:35 am - The Pennsylvania Senate on Oct. 25 unanimously approved a bill that would require the dismissal of state police troopers convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor ...
Cargo thieves devious; recovery rate low, newspaper reports
11/04/2003 - 10:24:53 am - California officials and the trucking industry are losing the battle against cargo theft, The Sacramento Bee reported recently. Sgt. Marc Gomez of the California ...
Average diesel price down for second consecutive week
11/04/2003 - 10:25:43 am - The average U.S. retail price of diesel fuel fell to $1.481 from the previous average of $1.495, the Department of Energy reported Tuesday. The highest average ...
Survey: Most unaware of new FDA terrorism regulations
11/04/2003 - 10:27:05 am - New U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations designed to protect against terrorist threats to the food supply face massive non-compliance when they go into effect next ...
Some use `smart containers’ to get fast-lane treatment
11/04/2003 - 10:28:20 am - Security-sensitive shipping lines have started using cargo containers equipped with sensors and stronger locks to deter terrorism, The Associated Press reported ...
OIG to audit FHWA’s oversight of bridges
11/04/2003 - 10:29:48 am - Beginning this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General plans to conduct an audit of the Federal Highway Administration’s oversight of ...
SPECIAL REPORT: Shooting kills two at Ohio trucking terminal
11/06/2003 - 1:40:28 pm - A former employee is under arrest after a man walked into the West Chester, OH, office of Watkins Motor Lines and shot five people, according to news reports. Tom ...
Milemarkers? Odometers? The wonders of ancient Rome still amaze highway engineers
11/07/2003 - 11:40:42 pm - The American Society of Highway Engineers newsletter, “The Scanner” published an interesting article in its Nov. 5 edition. A bit out of the norm for “The Scanner,” it ...
NC road work detours some westbound rigs
11/07/2003 - 11:42:07 pm - Road crews have traffic down to one lane in both directions for repairs along I-40 near Asheville, NC. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is requiring ...
Attempt to override veto fails, split speed upheld in Illinois
11/07/2003 - 11:45:31 pm - Illinois will continue to have a split speed limit after the state’s House of Representatives fell short in an attempt to override the governor’s veto of HB1186. ...
Halliburton may lose job of trucking fuel into Iraq
11/07/2003 - 11:47:14 pm - The Pentagon is considering trucking fuel into Iraq, a move that would take away one of Halliburton`s prime responsibilities in the occupied country, the Houston Chronicle ...
New railcar reflector rule to enhance safety
11/07/2003 - 11:49:01 pm - The Federal Railroad Administration wants to require new reflective material be placed on the side of railcars to help prevent collisions with big rigs and other vehicles ...
Tolls sought for I-95 in North Carolina
11/07/2003 - 11:51:18 pm - The North Carolina Department of Transportation will seek federal permission to charge tolls on I-95 to pay for the highway’s $3 billion overhaul, according to local media ...
Ohio shooter asked for police, wanted to be handcuffed
11/07/2003 - 11:53:20 pm - After the Nov. 6 fatal shooting that claimed two lives at West Chester, OH-based Watkins Motor Lines, suspect Tom West asked truck stop employees to call police - and when ...
Bills place chassis responsibility on owners – not drivers
11/11/2003 - 2:27:26 pm - Bills introduced recently in the U.S. House and Senate place the responsibility of chassis inspection and repair on equipment owners and not truck drivers, as has been the ...
Memorial fund for accident victims’ families
11/11/2003 - 2:29:05 pm - The California Moving and Storage Association and Rebel Van Lines are seeking help for the families of four men killed in a tragic trucking accident Oct. 9. The ...
Wisconsin drugged-driving bill headed to governor
11/11/2003 - 2:31:06 pm - The Wisconsin Senate has passed legislation toughening penalties on people who drive while on drugs. Dubbed the “Baby Luke Bill,” AB458 was written largely in ...
Average diesel price down for third consecutive week
11/11/2003 - 2:31:54 pm - The average U.S. retail price of diesel fuel fell to $1.476 from the previous average of $1.481, the Department of Energy reported Tuesday. The highest average ...
Confusing ‘notice’ from Kentucky tax division baffles truckers
11/11/2003 - 2:33:58 pm - According to OOIDA, a number of confused (and irate) small-business truckers are reporting they received startling notices from the motor vehicle branch of Kentucky’s Division ...
Senators concerned about port security
11/11/2003 - 2:36:03 pm - Sens. Susan Collins, R-ME, and Joe Lieberman, D-CT, have expressed concern about potential weaknesses in the Department of Homeland Security`s port security programs and are ...
Arctic Express files Chapter 11 in face of further denials of motions by District Court
11/13/2003 - 11:11:36 am - On Oct. 31, 2004, Arctic Express Inc. announced it had filed for a voluntary petition to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The petition was filed in the ...
New Wisconsin law limits borrowing for road projects
11/13/2003 - 11:13:18 am - Wisconsin will cap its borrowing for highway projects at $565 million over the next two years and change how the funds are repaid under legislation Gov. Jim Doyle signed last ...
Prosecutor: Trucking company shooter admitted killings
11/13/2003 - 11:14:55 am - A man accused of killing two people at a trucking company in Ohio admitted to the shootings in telephone calls to several people, including his sister, a prosecutor said, as ...
Truck bomb kills at least 26 in Iraq
11/13/2003 - 11:16:08 am - A truck bomb exploded at the headquarters of the Italian Carabinieri police in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, killing at least 26 persons, 18 of them Italians, and ...
Cannon Express taking itself off stock exchange
11/16/2003 - 12:10:58 pm - Cannon Express Inc. of Springdale, AR, is voluntarily delisting itself from the American Stock Exchange, according to Arkansas Business.com. Cannon has not traded ...
Illinois reconsiders closing Chicago interstate ramps
11/16/2003 - 12:11:43 pm - A strong reaction from South Side politicians in Chicago has prompted the state of Illinois to reconsider closing a number of ramps on and off of the Dan Ryan Expressway, The ...
Harsher hit-and-run penalties now law in Wisconsin
11/16/2003 - 12:12:47 pm - Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill into law Nov. 12 increasing penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident involving deaths or injuries. Doyle told ...
Illinois considers letting illegal immigrants have licenses
11/16/2003 - 12:14:15 pm - The Illinois Senate will consider a bill Nov. 18 that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s license in the state. SB67, as amended, will allow people ...
Court upholds constitutionality of discount
11/16/2003 - 12:15:24 pm - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has upheld the constitutionality of electronic toll discounts by the Massachusetts Turnpike – in a case on appeal from U.S. ...
Homeland Security trainee accused of selling fake work documents
11/16/2003 - 12:16:33 pm - A Miami Department of Homeland Security worker who was training to become a special agent has been accused of charging non-U.S. citizens up to $12,000 for fraudulent documents ...
California emissions software hearing rescheduled
11/16/2003 - 12:17:39 pm - The California Air Resources Board has rescheduled its public hearing to consider a regulation that would require a heavy-duty diesel engine software upgrade. The hearing will ...
EPA workshop: Meeting truck stop electrification challenges
11/16/2003 - 12:19:34 pm - The Environmental Protection Agency conducted a workshop Oct. 27 in Washington, DC. Its mission: To chart the future of truck stop electrification. A broad ...
Louisiana due process lawsuit declared class action
11/16/2003 - 12:22:04 pm - Judge Curtis Calloway, 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, LA, certified OOIDA member Gary Ring’s case against the Louisiana Department of Transportation and ...
Ridge to meet in Mexico to improve border security procedures
11/16/2003 - 12:23:19 pm - Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and Mexican Minister of Governance Secretary Santiago Creel will meet in February to discuss ways to improve the flow of ...
Border crackdown slowing commerce, investigation says
11/16/2003 - 12:24:43 pm - A crackdown along the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent terrorists from entering the United States has instead resulted in long delays of commercial trucks and other traffic at ...
Pete’s new 2004 calendar now available
11/18/2003 - 1:17:46 pm - The new 2004 Peterbilt calendar is now available for purchase. The calendar features photographs of the company`s legendary trucks and tractors. According to the ...
Michigan targets traffic light devices
11/18/2003 - 1:19:20 pm - Two bills introduced in the Michigan Senate Nov. 12 would outlaw the unauthorized sale and possession of controllers that can change some traffic signals from red to green. ...
Buckle up and save yourself, study says
11/18/2003 - 1:20:58 pm - Hundreds of lives could be saved next year if states had tougher seat-belt laws, according to a study by the National Safety Council, a private non-profit group ...
Average diesel price rises
11/18/2003 - 1:21:54 pm - After a three-week decline, the average U.S. retail price of diesel fuel rose to $1.481 from the previous average of $1.476, the Department of Energy reported. The ...
Protest set for today at Illinois Capitol
11/18/2003 - 1:23:22 pm - A protest is being organized against recent changes in Illinois that have affected the trucking industry. The event is being used to highlight the effects of a 36 ...
AFL-CIO says Mexican truck entry works against safety
11/18/2003 - 1:24:37 pm - Labor groups affiliated with the American Federal of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations are criticizing the Bush administration`s desire to allow access to U.S. ...
Trucking deal can go forward
11/20/2003 - 4:13:51 pm - Akron, OH, trucking company Roadway Corp. is cleared to join forces with rival Overland Park, KS-based Yellow Corp., the Akron Beacon Journal reports. The waiting ...
No toll booths for North Carolina
11/20/2003 - 4:15:25 pm - A spokesman for North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley told The Associated Press the governor would not approve a plan to place toll booths along Interstate 95 through the state. ...
Higher fuel tax proposed in Pennsylvania
11/20/2003 - 4:16:42 pm - Highway interests have called for increasing Pennsylvania’s fuel tax by as much as 8 cents a gallon to help fix the state’s roads and bridges, according to published reports ...
Schwarzenegger orders rollback of California vehicle license fee
11/20/2003 - 4:18:29 pm - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed an executive order rolling back a recent increase in the vehicle license fee, media outlets reported. The vehicle ...
Canadians ask for split sleeper berth rule
11/20/2003 - 4:19:42 pm - Canadian owner-operators want their government to implement split sleeper berth rules similar to U.S. rules, lest they be at a competitive disadvantage when new U.S. ...
Schneider increases driver rates, cites HOS impact
11/20/2003 - 4:21:04 pm - Green Bay, WI-based Schneider National plans to boost driver pay and other compensation starting Feb. 1 next year, partly in response to hours-of-service changes that take ...
Truckers protest higher fees, split speeds at Illinois Capitol
11/20/2003 - 4:22:54 pm - More than 200 trucks gathered at the Illinois Capitol building Nov. 18 to protest what organizers see as anti-trucking actions by the state Legislature and the governor ...
U.S., Mexico to create security hotline
11/20/2003 - 4:24:04 pm - The United States and Mexico agreed Nov. 12 to set up a homeland security hotline, Reuters news service reported. The hotline is between Homeland Security Secretary ...
Shipper choice: inspections that take time or `smart boxes`
11/20/2003 - 4:25:06 pm - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will ask the nation`s largest shipping companies to install electronic sensors and use reinforced metal seals on its steel-box cargo ...
U.S. House introduces $375 billion transportation package
11/20/2003 - 4:26:16 pm - The U.S. House of Representatives said Nov. 19 it wants $375 billion to pay for the nation`s transit and highway systems the next six years as part of the Transportation ...
HEARTLAND ANNOUNCES A 3 CENT PER MILE PAY INCREASE FOR ALL DRIVERS AND OWNER OPERATORS!
11/20/2003 - 4:29:32 pm - Heartland Express, Inc. of Iowa ranked as one of the “200 Best Small Companies” by Forbes magazine and a “Hot Growth Company” by BusinessWeek magazine announced today that ...
FTC slams pop-up spam scam
11/21/2003 - 10:04:08 am - Computer-savvy truckers could see a little less spam out there on the Information Superhighway since the Federal Trade Commission recently snagged a group of pop-up spammers ...
NY considers snow-free vehicle mandate
11/21/2003 - 10:06:15 am - Multiple bills in the New York Legislature would ticket drivers for not shoveling snow and ice off their windshields, Albany`s Times Union reported. The measures ...
Land Line wins media awards; Tankersley cops top honors for investigative reporting
11/21/2003 - 10:07:56 am - Land Line Magazine was among the international automotive media elite recognized at the International Automotive Media Conference awards Nov. 18 in New York City. OOIDA`s ...
Alleged shooter says he`s not guilty, wants to defend himself
11/21/2003 - 10:09:17 am - The man police say is responsible for gunning down five workers at a West Chester, OH, trucking company office entered a not guilty plea Nov. 20 and said he would like to ...
Say what?
11/21/2003 - 10:11:18 am - The Maine Turnpike Authority voted Nov. 19 to ban trucks from the left lane of the state`s three-lane highways, including I-95, as a way to lower pollution. The ...
Illinois lawmakers rush to overturn fee before session ends
11/21/2003 - 10:13:01 am - Illinois lawmakers were working feverishly Thursday, Nov. 20, to pass measures that would roll back higher fees that angered the state`s truckers. The bills all ...
Truck was rolling in dough
11/24/2003 - 2:25:39 pm - An 18-wheeler pulled over in Texas turned out to contain a little more than its stated load of heat-and-serve dinner rolls. The state’s Department of Public Safety ...
California plan could reduce truck parking spaces just as new HOS starts
11/24/2003 - 2:26:50 pm - California may close some of its rest areas just as new hours of service regulations are about to go into effect, increasing the need for truck parking spaces, KGTV TV in San ...
New Jersey: fuel hike proposal likely
11/24/2003 - 2:28:15 pm - A panel appointed by Gov. James McGreevey likely will request an increase in New Jersey’s fuel tax to fund repairs and improvements to the state’s roads, according to ...
Negotiations under way in several grocery strikes across U.S.
11/24/2003 - 2:29:58 pm - Southern California grocery workers and representatives of four retail chains will meet this weekend in attempt to bring a long-running strike to an end, The North County ...
National Motor Carrier Directory available online
11/24/2003 - 2:31:12 pm - The National Motor Carrier Directory is now available online, as well as a CD-ROM and its traditional print edition. The 1,702-page directory includes complete ...
Court says FBI can`t monitor communication via OnStar
11/24/2003 - 2:32:31 pm - The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Nov. 18 put the brakes on an FBI and police technique to eavesdrop on conversations inside vehicles equipped with OnStar or similar dashboard ...
New cargo rules affect truckers
11/24/2003 - 2:35:24 pm - The Homeland Security Department announced new rules Nov. 20 to require electronic manifests identifying freight shipped by truck, rail, plane and ship to be sent to Customs ...
Study: Drug use steady among ‘safety-sensitive’ workers
11/26/2003 - 8:32:37 am - Drug use was unchanged nationwide among “safety-sensitive” workers – a group that includes truckers – according to an annual study by Quest Diagnostics. The figures ...
Trucking company settles discrimination suit to tune of $500,000
11/26/2003 - 8:34:08 am - PJAX Inc, Gibsonia, PA, resolved a discrimination lawsuit Nov. 23 involving five female workers and agreed to pay more than $500,000 to the women. PJAX is a private ...
Iraqi trucking company launched despite fear of attacks
11/26/2003 - 8:35:24 am - While visiting Haditha, Iraq, Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack Jr., commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, attended a ceremony on the U.S. military base to launch an Iraqi ...
California moves to reverse law that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain licenses
11/26/2003 - 8:36:40 am - The California General Assembly is acting quickly to reverse a law that allowed illegal immigrants to obtain valid driver’s licenses. SBX3 1, which was introduced ...
Panel suggests fuel tax hike in New Jersey
11/26/2003 - 8:38:01 am - A transportation commission appointed by Gov. James McGreevey recommended Nov. 24 that New Jersey hike its fuel tax by at least 12.5 cents per gallon to fund repairs and ...
Snowplowing efforts affected by state budget woes
11/26/2003 - 8:40:23 am - Several states are considering cutbacks in snow removal as budget problems continue in governments across the country. The Wisconsin DOT announced Nov. 20 that ...
Illinois lawmakers unable to overturn fee; efforts to resume in January
11/26/2003 - 8:44:23 am - Despite a number of efforts, Illinois lawmakers were not able to overturn a 36 percent surcharge on registration fees before they adjourned for the year Nov. 20 ...
Trucker dies in fiery crash
11/26/2003 - 8:46:04 am - A Missouri trucker was killed Monday night in a fiery accident on Interstate 70 in St. Louis. Clarence Fannon, 63, of Maryville, MO, died when his tractor-trailer ...
Wisconsin authorities still looking for trucker’s killer
11/26/2003 - 8:47:37 am - Police still don’t know who shot a Wisconsin trucker Nov. 18 in the cab of his truck. The body of Pat Zemke, 45, of Rib Mountain, WI, was found in his truck, which ...
Teamsters say they won’t deliver to distribution centers in California grocery strike
11/26/2003 - 8:49:19 am - The Teamsters said Nov. 24 that the union’s workers would no longer deliver to distribution centers operated by three grocery chains currently under strike in Southern ...
< Back to News Archive
11/01/2003 - 8:21:06 am - The American Moving and Storage Association, the national trade association representing moving and storage companies, has just released its mobility study results for ...
Terrorist scare turns into witch hunt
11/01/2003 - 8:23:10 am - A massive security alert at the heart of the U.S. government was triggered Oct. 30 by a Halloween costume, police have revealed. As if on broomsticks, armed ...
Bank considers giving away toll transponders
11/01/2003 - 8:24:56 am - Citizens Bank, which recently took over sponsorship of the Massachusetts Turnpike`s Fast Lane electronic toll program, is considering a program to give away free toll ...
Oklahoma official says state needs more road money
11/01/2003 - 8:26:01 am - An Oklahoma transportation official said the state may have to consider new taxes - including increases in fuel taxes - to bring its roads up to snuff, The Norman ...
OOIDA members honored by HHG company
11/01/2003 - 8:27:56 am - Two OOIDA members were among seven household goods drivers honored by The Bekins Co. as Drivers of the Year. The awards were presented to one driver from each of the ...
Snowstorm strikes northern Rockies
11/01/2003 - 8:31:34 am - A deadly storm struck the northern Rocky Mountain region, dropping heavy snow and freezing rain, causing dozens of highway collisions, The Associated Press reported ...
Traffic light changers against the law in Michigan, agency says
11/01/2003 - 8:32:53 am - Infrared traffic-signal controllers sold over the Internet are illegal in Michigan, the state`s Department of Transportation announced recently. The devices ...
New Jersey Turnpike to pay for new officers
11/01/2003 - 8:33:45 am - The agency that operates toll roads in New Jersey will pay to train 100 new highway patrol officers in an effort to increase the number of law-enforcement personnel on the ...
Students, educated professionals most dangerous on road, study says
11/01/2003 - 8:40:40 am - Which professions and occupations produce the most accident-prone speeders and aggressive drivers? Quality Planning Corp. recently shed some light on the subject ...
TWIC being tested in Philadelphia and Los Angeles
11/01/2003 - 8:41:00 am - A top Homeland Security official acknowledged it is nearly impossible to police goods made in foreign countries before they arrive at ports to be shipped to the United States, ...
ACLU targets system that would collect information on all drivers
11/01/2003 - 8:41:30 am - A system that collects all publicly available information on drivers into a single, searchable database has collected a new opponent - the American Civil Liberties Union ...
Pennsylvania Senate approves trooper discipline bill
11/04/2003 - 10:23:35 am - The Pennsylvania Senate on Oct. 25 unanimously approved a bill that would require the dismissal of state police troopers convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor ...
Cargo thieves devious; recovery rate low, newspaper reports
11/04/2003 - 10:24:53 am - California officials and the trucking industry are losing the battle against cargo theft, The Sacramento Bee reported recently. Sgt. Marc Gomez of the California ...
Average diesel price down for second consecutive week
11/04/2003 - 10:25:43 am - The average U.S. retail price of diesel fuel fell to $1.481 from the previous average of $1.495, the Department of Energy reported Tuesday. The highest average ...
Survey: Most unaware of new FDA terrorism regulations
11/04/2003 - 10:27:05 am - New U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations designed to protect against terrorist threats to the food supply face massive non-compliance when they go into effect next ...
Some use `smart containers’ to get fast-lane treatment
11/04/2003 - 10:28:20 am - Security-sensitive shipping lines have started using cargo containers equipped with sensors and stronger locks to deter terrorism, The Associated Press reported ...
OIG to audit FHWA’s oversight of bridges
11/04/2003 - 10:29:48 am - Beginning this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General plans to conduct an audit of the Federal Highway Administration’s oversight of ...
SPECIAL REPORT: Shooting kills two at Ohio trucking terminal
11/06/2003 - 1:40:28 pm - A former employee is under arrest after a man walked into the West Chester, OH, office of Watkins Motor Lines and shot five people, according to news reports. Tom ...
Milemarkers? Odometers? The wonders of ancient Rome still amaze highway engineers
11/07/2003 - 11:40:42 pm - The American Society of Highway Engineers newsletter, “The Scanner” published an interesting article in its Nov. 5 edition. A bit out of the norm for “The Scanner,” it ...
NC road work detours some westbound rigs
11/07/2003 - 11:42:07 pm - Road crews have traffic down to one lane in both directions for repairs along I-40 near Asheville, NC. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is requiring ...
Attempt to override veto fails, split speed upheld in Illinois
11/07/2003 - 11:45:31 pm - Illinois will continue to have a split speed limit after the state’s House of Representatives fell short in an attempt to override the governor’s veto of HB1186. ...
Halliburton may lose job of trucking fuel into Iraq
11/07/2003 - 11:47:14 pm - The Pentagon is considering trucking fuel into Iraq, a move that would take away one of Halliburton`s prime responsibilities in the occupied country, the Houston Chronicle ...
New railcar reflector rule to enhance safety
11/07/2003 - 11:49:01 pm - The Federal Railroad Administration wants to require new reflective material be placed on the side of railcars to help prevent collisions with big rigs and other vehicles ...
Tolls sought for I-95 in North Carolina
11/07/2003 - 11:51:18 pm - The North Carolina Department of Transportation will seek federal permission to charge tolls on I-95 to pay for the highway’s $3 billion overhaul, according to local media ...
Ohio shooter asked for police, wanted to be handcuffed
11/07/2003 - 11:53:20 pm - After the Nov. 6 fatal shooting that claimed two lives at West Chester, OH-based Watkins Motor Lines, suspect Tom West asked truck stop employees to call police - and when ...
Bills place chassis responsibility on owners – not drivers
11/11/2003 - 2:27:26 pm - Bills introduced recently in the U.S. House and Senate place the responsibility of chassis inspection and repair on equipment owners and not truck drivers, as has been the ...
Memorial fund for accident victims’ families
11/11/2003 - 2:29:05 pm - The California Moving and Storage Association and Rebel Van Lines are seeking help for the families of four men killed in a tragic trucking accident Oct. 9. The ...
Wisconsin drugged-driving bill headed to governor
11/11/2003 - 2:31:06 pm - The Wisconsin Senate has passed legislation toughening penalties on people who drive while on drugs. Dubbed the “Baby Luke Bill,” AB458 was written largely in ...
Average diesel price down for third consecutive week
11/11/2003 - 2:31:54 pm - The average U.S. retail price of diesel fuel fell to $1.476 from the previous average of $1.481, the Department of Energy reported Tuesday. The highest average ...
Confusing ‘notice’ from Kentucky tax division baffles truckers
11/11/2003 - 2:33:58 pm - According to OOIDA, a number of confused (and irate) small-business truckers are reporting they received startling notices from the motor vehicle branch of Kentucky’s Division ...
Senators concerned about port security
11/11/2003 - 2:36:03 pm - Sens. Susan Collins, R-ME, and Joe Lieberman, D-CT, have expressed concern about potential weaknesses in the Department of Homeland Security`s port security programs and are ...
Arctic Express files Chapter 11 in face of further denials of motions by District Court
11/13/2003 - 11:11:36 am - On Oct. 31, 2004, Arctic Express Inc. announced it had filed for a voluntary petition to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The petition was filed in the ...
New Wisconsin law limits borrowing for road projects
11/13/2003 - 11:13:18 am - Wisconsin will cap its borrowing for highway projects at $565 million over the next two years and change how the funds are repaid under legislation Gov. Jim Doyle signed last ...
Prosecutor: Trucking company shooter admitted killings
11/13/2003 - 11:14:55 am - A man accused of killing two people at a trucking company in Ohio admitted to the shootings in telephone calls to several people, including his sister, a prosecutor said, as ...
Truck bomb kills at least 26 in Iraq
11/13/2003 - 11:16:08 am - A truck bomb exploded at the headquarters of the Italian Carabinieri police in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, killing at least 26 persons, 18 of them Italians, and ...
Cannon Express taking itself off stock exchange
11/16/2003 - 12:10:58 pm - Cannon Express Inc. of Springdale, AR, is voluntarily delisting itself from the American Stock Exchange, according to Arkansas Business.com. Cannon has not traded ...
Illinois reconsiders closing Chicago interstate ramps
11/16/2003 - 12:11:43 pm - A strong reaction from South Side politicians in Chicago has prompted the state of Illinois to reconsider closing a number of ramps on and off of the Dan Ryan Expressway, The ...
Harsher hit-and-run penalties now law in Wisconsin
11/16/2003 - 12:12:47 pm - Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill into law Nov. 12 increasing penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident involving deaths or injuries. Doyle told ...
Illinois considers letting illegal immigrants have licenses
11/16/2003 - 12:14:15 pm - The Illinois Senate will consider a bill Nov. 18 that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s license in the state. SB67, as amended, will allow people ...
Court upholds constitutionality of discount
11/16/2003 - 12:15:24 pm - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has upheld the constitutionality of electronic toll discounts by the Massachusetts Turnpike – in a case on appeal from U.S. ...
Homeland Security trainee accused of selling fake work documents
11/16/2003 - 12:16:33 pm - A Miami Department of Homeland Security worker who was training to become a special agent has been accused of charging non-U.S. citizens up to $12,000 for fraudulent documents ...
California emissions software hearing rescheduled
11/16/2003 - 12:17:39 pm - The California Air Resources Board has rescheduled its public hearing to consider a regulation that would require a heavy-duty diesel engine software upgrade. The hearing will ...
EPA workshop: Meeting truck stop electrification challenges
11/16/2003 - 12:19:34 pm - The Environmental Protection Agency conducted a workshop Oct. 27 in Washington, DC. Its mission: To chart the future of truck stop electrification. A broad ...
Louisiana due process lawsuit declared class action
11/16/2003 - 12:22:04 pm - Judge Curtis Calloway, 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, LA, certified OOIDA member Gary Ring’s case against the Louisiana Department of Transportation and ...
Ridge to meet in Mexico to improve border security procedures
11/16/2003 - 12:23:19 pm - Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and Mexican Minister of Governance Secretary Santiago Creel will meet in February to discuss ways to improve the flow of ...
Border crackdown slowing commerce, investigation says
11/16/2003 - 12:24:43 pm - A crackdown along the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent terrorists from entering the United States has instead resulted in long delays of commercial trucks and other traffic at ...
Pete’s new 2004 calendar now available
11/18/2003 - 1:17:46 pm - The new 2004 Peterbilt calendar is now available for purchase. The calendar features photographs of the company`s legendary trucks and tractors. According to the ...
Michigan targets traffic light devices
11/18/2003 - 1:19:20 pm - Two bills introduced in the Michigan Senate Nov. 12 would outlaw the unauthorized sale and possession of controllers that can change some traffic signals from red to green. ...
Buckle up and save yourself, study says
11/18/2003 - 1:20:58 pm - Hundreds of lives could be saved next year if states had tougher seat-belt laws, according to a study by the National Safety Council, a private non-profit group ...
Average diesel price rises
11/18/2003 - 1:21:54 pm - After a three-week decline, the average U.S. retail price of diesel fuel rose to $1.481 from the previous average of $1.476, the Department of Energy reported. The ...
Protest set for today at Illinois Capitol
11/18/2003 - 1:23:22 pm - A protest is being organized against recent changes in Illinois that have affected the trucking industry. The event is being used to highlight the effects of a 36 ...
AFL-CIO says Mexican truck entry works against safety
11/18/2003 - 1:24:37 pm - Labor groups affiliated with the American Federal of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations are criticizing the Bush administration`s desire to allow access to U.S. ...
Trucking deal can go forward
11/20/2003 - 4:13:51 pm - Akron, OH, trucking company Roadway Corp. is cleared to join forces with rival Overland Park, KS-based Yellow Corp., the Akron Beacon Journal reports. The waiting ...
No toll booths for North Carolina
11/20/2003 - 4:15:25 pm - A spokesman for North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley told The Associated Press the governor would not approve a plan to place toll booths along Interstate 95 through the state. ...
Higher fuel tax proposed in Pennsylvania
11/20/2003 - 4:16:42 pm - Highway interests have called for increasing Pennsylvania’s fuel tax by as much as 8 cents a gallon to help fix the state’s roads and bridges, according to published reports ...
Schwarzenegger orders rollback of California vehicle license fee
11/20/2003 - 4:18:29 pm - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed an executive order rolling back a recent increase in the vehicle license fee, media outlets reported. The vehicle ...
Canadians ask for split sleeper berth rule
11/20/2003 - 4:19:42 pm - Canadian owner-operators want their government to implement split sleeper berth rules similar to U.S. rules, lest they be at a competitive disadvantage when new U.S. ...
Schneider increases driver rates, cites HOS impact
11/20/2003 - 4:21:04 pm - Green Bay, WI-based Schneider National plans to boost driver pay and other compensation starting Feb. 1 next year, partly in response to hours-of-service changes that take ...
Truckers protest higher fees, split speeds at Illinois Capitol
11/20/2003 - 4:22:54 pm - More than 200 trucks gathered at the Illinois Capitol building Nov. 18 to protest what organizers see as anti-trucking actions by the state Legislature and the governor ...
U.S., Mexico to create security hotline
11/20/2003 - 4:24:04 pm - The United States and Mexico agreed Nov. 12 to set up a homeland security hotline, Reuters news service reported. The hotline is between Homeland Security Secretary ...
Shipper choice: inspections that take time or `smart boxes`
11/20/2003 - 4:25:06 pm - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will ask the nation`s largest shipping companies to install electronic sensors and use reinforced metal seals on its steel-box cargo ...
U.S. House introduces $375 billion transportation package
11/20/2003 - 4:26:16 pm - The U.S. House of Representatives said Nov. 19 it wants $375 billion to pay for the nation`s transit and highway systems the next six years as part of the Transportation ...
HEARTLAND ANNOUNCES A 3 CENT PER MILE PAY INCREASE FOR ALL DRIVERS AND OWNER OPERATORS!
11/20/2003 - 4:29:32 pm - Heartland Express, Inc. of Iowa ranked as one of the “200 Best Small Companies” by Forbes magazine and a “Hot Growth Company” by BusinessWeek magazine announced today that ...
FTC slams pop-up spam scam
11/21/2003 - 10:04:08 am - Computer-savvy truckers could see a little less spam out there on the Information Superhighway since the Federal Trade Commission recently snagged a group of pop-up spammers ...
NY considers snow-free vehicle mandate
11/21/2003 - 10:06:15 am - Multiple bills in the New York Legislature would ticket drivers for not shoveling snow and ice off their windshields, Albany`s Times Union reported. The measures ...
Land Line wins media awards; Tankersley cops top honors for investigative reporting
11/21/2003 - 10:07:56 am - Land Line Magazine was among the international automotive media elite recognized at the International Automotive Media Conference awards Nov. 18 in New York City. OOIDA`s ...
Alleged shooter says he`s not guilty, wants to defend himself
11/21/2003 - 10:09:17 am - The man police say is responsible for gunning down five workers at a West Chester, OH, trucking company office entered a not guilty plea Nov. 20 and said he would like to ...
Say what?
11/21/2003 - 10:11:18 am - The Maine Turnpike Authority voted Nov. 19 to ban trucks from the left lane of the state`s three-lane highways, including I-95, as a way to lower pollution. The ...
Illinois lawmakers rush to overturn fee before session ends
11/21/2003 - 10:13:01 am - Illinois lawmakers were working feverishly Thursday, Nov. 20, to pass measures that would roll back higher fees that angered the state`s truckers. The bills all ...
Truck was rolling in dough
11/24/2003 - 2:25:39 pm - An 18-wheeler pulled over in Texas turned out to contain a little more than its stated load of heat-and-serve dinner rolls. The state’s Department of Public Safety ...
California plan could reduce truck parking spaces just as new HOS starts
11/24/2003 - 2:26:50 pm - California may close some of its rest areas just as new hours of service regulations are about to go into effect, increasing the need for truck parking spaces, KGTV TV in San ...
New Jersey: fuel hike proposal likely
11/24/2003 - 2:28:15 pm - A panel appointed by Gov. James McGreevey likely will request an increase in New Jersey’s fuel tax to fund repairs and improvements to the state’s roads, according to ...
Negotiations under way in several grocery strikes across U.S.
11/24/2003 - 2:29:58 pm - Southern California grocery workers and representatives of four retail chains will meet this weekend in attempt to bring a long-running strike to an end, The North County ...
National Motor Carrier Directory available online
11/24/2003 - 2:31:12 pm - The National Motor Carrier Directory is now available online, as well as a CD-ROM and its traditional print edition. The 1,702-page directory includes complete ...
Court says FBI can`t monitor communication via OnStar
11/24/2003 - 2:32:31 pm - The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Nov. 18 put the brakes on an FBI and police technique to eavesdrop on conversations inside vehicles equipped with OnStar or similar dashboard ...
New cargo rules affect truckers
11/24/2003 - 2:35:24 pm - The Homeland Security Department announced new rules Nov. 20 to require electronic manifests identifying freight shipped by truck, rail, plane and ship to be sent to Customs ...
Study: Drug use steady among ‘safety-sensitive’ workers
11/26/2003 - 8:32:37 am - Drug use was unchanged nationwide among “safety-sensitive” workers – a group that includes truckers – according to an annual study by Quest Diagnostics. The figures ...
Trucking company settles discrimination suit to tune of $500,000
11/26/2003 - 8:34:08 am - PJAX Inc, Gibsonia, PA, resolved a discrimination lawsuit Nov. 23 involving five female workers and agreed to pay more than $500,000 to the women. PJAX is a private ...
Iraqi trucking company launched despite fear of attacks
11/26/2003 - 8:35:24 am - While visiting Haditha, Iraq, Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack Jr., commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, attended a ceremony on the U.S. military base to launch an Iraqi ...
California moves to reverse law that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain licenses
11/26/2003 - 8:36:40 am - The California General Assembly is acting quickly to reverse a law that allowed illegal immigrants to obtain valid driver’s licenses. SBX3 1, which was introduced ...
Panel suggests fuel tax hike in New Jersey
11/26/2003 - 8:38:01 am - A transportation commission appointed by Gov. James McGreevey recommended Nov. 24 that New Jersey hike its fuel tax by at least 12.5 cents per gallon to fund repairs and ...
Snowplowing efforts affected by state budget woes
11/26/2003 - 8:40:23 am - Several states are considering cutbacks in snow removal as budget problems continue in governments across the country. The Wisconsin DOT announced Nov. 20 that ...
Illinois lawmakers unable to overturn fee; efforts to resume in January
11/26/2003 - 8:44:23 am - Despite a number of efforts, Illinois lawmakers were not able to overturn a 36 percent surcharge on registration fees before they adjourned for the year Nov. 20 ...
Trucker dies in fiery crash
11/26/2003 - 8:46:04 am - A Missouri trucker was killed Monday night in a fiery accident on Interstate 70 in St. Louis. Clarence Fannon, 63, of Maryville, MO, died when his tractor-trailer ...
Wisconsin authorities still looking for trucker’s killer
11/26/2003 - 8:47:37 am - Police still don’t know who shot a Wisconsin trucker Nov. 18 in the cab of his truck. The body of Pat Zemke, 45, of Rib Mountain, WI, was found in his truck, which ...
Teamsters say they won’t deliver to distribution centers in California grocery strike
11/26/2003 - 8:49:19 am - The Teamsters said Nov. 24 that the union’s workers would no longer deliver to distribution centers operated by three grocery chains currently under strike in Southern ...
