Dana Chief Dies
Joe Magliochetti, Dana Corporation’s chairman and chief executive officer, died Sept. 22 from pancreatitis complications. He was 61. The board of the automotive and truck parts company named Glen Hiner as acting chairman. Board members also voted Bill Carroll, president of Dana’s Automotive Systems Group, as acting president. Magliochetti joined Dana in 1966 as a management trainee and was elected the company’s sixth chairman in 2000.
Engine Recall
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s July safety recall included Detroit Diesel 60 engines on certain Freightliner FLD, Century, Columbia and Argosy trucks. The NHTSA stated the recall potentially affects 52,830 engines and involves a pressurized fuel line on the left rear side of the engine. On some trucks, this line could rub against the cylinder block, which may result in a fuel leak. Owners are asked to wait until they receive notification from the manufacturer before contacting dealers to schedule the repair. The NHTSA recall number is 03E040, and the Detroit Diesel recall number is 03C-2. Further information is available by calling Detroit Diesel, (313) 592-3708.
Sex Habits Study
A federally funded health study is seeking truckers who will anonymously provide information on their sexual practices. The purpose is to develop disease-prevention programs for truckers and those they interact with on the road. The National Institute of Health granted $1.1 million to Emory University’s Medical School for the four-year study. Long-haul truckers willing to participate in these online focus groups should visit http://fpm.emory.edu/prev_
med/truckers/research.htm or call (404) 616-3617.
Fewer Repos
Fewer trucks were repossessed in the first two quarters of 2003 than the same time last year, according to an industry index. The slowdown in repossessions may be a sign that the economy is improving for the trucking industry. According to the index’s first quarter data, there was a 36 percent decrease in repossessions of trucks and trailers over the same quarter in 2002. Repossessions were down 32 percent in the second quarter.
Fewer Deaths
Although U.S. transportation fatalities increased slightly in 2002, there were 24 fewer deaths that occurred in the medium and heavy truck category. The National Transportation Safety Board released preliminary figures Oct. 2 on 2002 transportation fatalities, which increased to 45,098 from 44,969 the previous year. Highway fatalities caused more than 94 percent of all transportation deaths last year. In 2002 there were 42,815 deaths, compared to 2001’s 42,196.
Infrastructure Woes
The condition of the United States’ roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other public works have shown little improvement since they were graded an overall D+ in 2001, concluded the 2003 Progress Report for America’s Infrastructure, released Sept. 4 by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Among infrastructure maintenance problems are a lack of government funding, population growth, voter opposition to infrastructure projects and the continuing deterioration of an aging system. Also, the threat of possible terrorist attacks has diverted funding in order to implement infrastructure security measures. More information is available at the ACSE’s website, www.asce.org/reportcard.
