Truckers News : February 2009
News
U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood has accepted Presi-dent Barack Obama's nomination for the Illinois Republican to become transpor-tation secretary. The American Trucking Associations said it had worked for years with the seven-term legislator, who serves on the House Appropriations committee. Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa described him as a moderate Republican supporting Teamsters issues, such as Amtrak funding. Con-gressman Ray LaHood has been a long-time, strong ally in the Teamsters' unwavering fight to stop unsafe Mexican trucks from traveling freely throughout the United States, Hoffa said. In September, the former House trans-portation committee member voted in favor of a bill prohibiting the DOT from granting the authority to Mexican carriers to operate beyond the border zone unless expressly authorized by Congress. According to Open Secrets, an inde-pendent website that tracks financial contributions and political leaders, LaHood's contributors include the ATA and transportation unions. He was among the congressmen who fought unsuccessfully to delay the 2002 diesel emission standards. Vote Smart, a non-partisan website that tracks politics, stated he voted in support of the American Road and Trans-portation Builders 66 percent of the time during the 2005-2006 vote cycle. LaHood, 63, was completing his seventh congressional term and had planned to retire in January. He is a for-mer Illinois state representative, teacher and congressional aide. If confirmed, he would be a key player in the new administration's proposal to rebuild the nation's infrastructure, including highways and bridges. He has been instrumental in getting federal funding for highway projects running through his Peoria home district. He also supported more funds for Amtrak. Jill Dunn NEWS Flying J Files for Bankruptcy Reorganization Flying J Inc. and its refining and pipe-line subsidiaries have filed for Chap-ter 11 bankruptcy protection caused by the sharp fall in energy prices and the disruption in credit mar-kets, the company said. The Ogden, Utah-based company added that its 250 travel plazas and fuel stops are open and serving customers in the normal course. It will continue nor-mal business operations as it moves through reorganization. Diesel Continues Price Drop In the week ended Dec. 29, the national average price decreased 3.9 cents to $2.327. The price is $1.01 less than a year ago. Since its record high of $4.764 announced July 14, the weekly national average has dropped $2.44, down 51 percent from the peak price. November Tonnage Index Increases After five months of declines, the American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 1.7 percent in November, marking the first month-to-month improve-ment since June 2008. The season-ally adjusted index declined 1.8 percent compared with November 2007, which was the second straight year-over-year decrease. The index contracted a total of 6.3 percent from June through October. In Octo-ber, the index was at the lowest level in five years. Con-way Cuts 1,450 Jobs Con-way Freight on Dec. 8 announced a reduction in its nation-wide work force by about 8 percent, or about 1,450 positions. Con-way Inc. says that since Oct. 23, the decline in year-over-year tonnage at Con-way Freight has acceler-ated significantly as the economy has continued to deteriorate. The FYI News Briefs continued on page 66 LaHood Tapped as DOT Chief A gunman who was suspected of shoot-ing and killing a 42-year-old owner-oper-ator for United Van Lines in his tractor in the Dallas area died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Dec. 24. Bruce Smith, 37, a former Utah state trooper, died at a Dallas-area hospital after being removed from life support on Dec. 23, a hospital spokesperson told police. Dallas police used preliminary ballistics tests to link Smith to the fatal shooting, according to a media report. The driver, William Scott Miller, of Frankfort, Ky., was shot Dec. 22 as he was driving his 18-wheeler on the LBJ Expressway in northeast Dallas, the reported. His rig came to a stop in the middle lane of the westbound LBJ, police said. The plan was he was going to fly home to be with his wife and kids, Lt. Craig Miller of the Dallas homicide unit said. Lt. Miller called the truck driver's actions heroic. No other people were injured as Mr. Miller maneuvered his truck out of traffic. Even though he was mortally wounded, he was able to control his rig, Lt. Miller said. We are deeply saddened by this senseless act, and our hearts go out to the family of William Scott Miller, his wife Shannon and their two young daughters, United Van Lines said in a statement. He will be greatly missed. Scott was a part of the United Van Lines team for nearly two years and Gunman Kills United Driver in Dallas continued on page 16 14 TRUCKERS NEWS FEBRUARY 2009