Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/14583
TRUCKING OPPORTUNITIES FYI NEWS BRIEFS continued from page 12 a 9.5 percent rise in April that was the biggest increase in more than five years. Massachusetts Bans Texting Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a new anti-distraction law that bans texting while driving. Massachusetts is the 29th state to implement a texting ban. It will fine adults $100 TRUCKERSNEWSDRIVERJOBS.COM for texting as a first offense, $250 for a second offense and $500 for a third. Drivers younger than 18, if caught texting or using a cell phone while driving, will receive a $100 fine in addi- tion to a 60-day license suspension. Daimler Increasing Truck Production Daimler Trucks North America LLC announced June 30 it will recall approximately 540 workers to three of its manufacturing facilities in North Carolina. Recalled workers were expected to be in place by mid-July at the company’s truck manufacturing facilities in Mt. Holly and Cleve- land, as well as at its components and logistics plant in Gastonia. Daily build rates at the Mt. Holly and Cleveland plants are rising sharply to meet strong order activity. DOT Adds $6 Million for Parking The U.S. Department of Transportation added $6 million to help address the parking shortage for commercial trucks on five U.S. interstates: I-15 in Utah, I-10 in Mississippi, I-5 in Oregon, I-40 in Tennessee and I-81 in Pennsylvania. The funds will be used to add parking capacity and continue to develop innovative ways to provide updated information on space availability to commercial trucks. Kenly 95 Joins Petro The Kenly 95 Truckstop in Kenly, N.C., at Exit 106 has become a Petro Stopping Center and renamed the Kenly 95 Petro. The full- service stop will change the restaurant to an Iron Skillet and the truck service center to a Petro:Lube. The truckstop is part of the Iowa 80 Group family of companies. Detroit Diesel Exceeds EPA Challenge Detroit Diesel’s Engine Manufacturing Center in Redford, Mich., is one of the first manufac- turing plants to reduce energy use in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star challenge, the diesel engine maker announced. The engine maker met goals for reducing its so- called energy intensity by 17 percent, exceeding the federal agency’s reduction goal by 7 percent. Dallas Highway to Get $1.4 Billion Facelift An $850 million loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation will help reconstruct Inter- state 635, which in known as the LBJ Freeway in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and add new toll lanes. DOT also authorized $615 million in tax-exempt private activity bonds issued for the project. • True Lease Purchase Program that saves drivers $10 - $12K of out of pocket expenses • No cash down • $1 buyout with no balloon payments • Fuel Surcharge paid on all miles • $.90 per mile with $.02 safety bonus (loaded or empty) NOW HIRING LEASE PURCHASE SOLOS & TEAMS OWNER OPERATOR TEAMS Visit www.truckersnews.hotims.com and enter 368 74 TRUCKERS NEWS AUGUST 2010 tn-JCT-aug-dontstop-half-is.indd 1 www.johnchristner.com 866-782-5414 Brake Maker Earns Honor Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC has been named to a group of suppliers that produce defects in fewer than 50 parts per million, Pac- car announced. The Elyria, Ohio-based brake maker, which supplies air foundation brakes to Paccar, earned the distinction by lowering product defects to 41 parts per million at its wheel-end manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Ky. CARB Awards The California Air Resources Board has awarded $200 million in Proposition 1B funds to cut emissions from heavy-duty trucks and other sources in the state’s four busiest trade corri- dors. The trade corridors to receive funding are $110 million for Los Angeles/Inland Empire, $55.5 million for Central Valley and $31 million for both the Bay Area and San Diego/Border regions. 6/30/10 9:59 AM