Strawhorn looks at impact of changes in regs
T he more things change, the more they stay the same," is an old saying that often applies to government regulations. But there's at least one change that's going to have a tremendous impact on vehicle operation and maintenance, according to Larry W. Strawhorn, vp-engineering, American Trucking Assns. (ATA), and that is the 2007 emissions program.
Addressing fleet operators and equipment suppliers at the Summer Meeting of The Maintenance Council of ATA, Strawhorn said that the stricter emissions standards scheduled for 2007 will dramatically affect the engines fleets use and how they service them, as well as the fuels they use and how they store them.
"The engine manufacturers are not fighting this," he continued. "They recognize, as does the trucking industry, that there is tremendous pressure on the diesel engine as a result of the public's conception of the diesel engine as a polluting machine.
"The fuel people, however, have more mixed emotions, because they don't feel they can meet the 15-parts-per-million low-sulfur standards set for 2005."
In effect, said Strawhorn, "The trucking industry is being told that by 2007 we have to run 'the great unknown.' We don't know what these after-treatments are going to be for oxides of nitrogen and particulate matters. We don't know what these fuels will be or how we're going to store them.
"So we're facing the unknown in two directions, and it behooves us all," he concluded, "to pay very close attention to what goes on in the emissions area before 2007."
There's also a changing regulatory focus. Strawhorn said that, historically, equipment rules were aimed at improving both safety and operations, and he pointed to improved tires, balanced brakes and flexible brake hose.
Now, he said, most equipment rules are intended to improve safety, but not operations, and he offered antilock brakes, reflective stripes and complex underride guards as examples.
Strawhorn also noted that the existing regulatory bureaucracy is enamored of new technologies such as electronically controlled braking systems and forward-looking radar, and he foresees a new wave of technology heading for every part of the truck.
The Institute for Truck Transportation Management (ITTM), the education and research affiliate of the National Private Truck Council (NPTC), now offers a series of seminars on transportation technology. Dates are November 9, Charlotte, N.C.; April 2, 2001, St. Louis; and September 25, 2001, Baltimore.
ITTM also has economic seminars for private fleets scheduled for September 18 in Tampa; October 16 in San Jose, Calif.; and March 13, 2001, in Atlanta.
Seminars covering position strategies will take place September 11 in Greensboro, N.C.; October 2, Nashville; February 6, 2001, Jacksonville, Fla.; and May 8, 2001, Dallas.
For more information, contact Lisa C. Deyo, NPTC, at 703-683-1300, ext. 219; 703-683-1217 (fax); deyo@nptc. org. You can also register online at www.nptc.org; go to "public" and then "education and training."
* International Truck and Engine Corp. has promoted John Oltesvig to staff vp-truck reliability and quality, for the company's truck group.
* Robert E. Wrightson has been named senior vp and chief financial officer for Consolidated Freightways.
* Soo Yong Lee has been named executive vp and CEO of Hyundai Precision America.
* The Holland Hitch Company announced that Patrick C. McGurk has joined the company as SBU director-coupler products.
* Dave McClimon has been named president and chief executive officer of Con-Way Western Express and Bruce H. Moss has been appointed vp-sales for Con-Way Central Express.
* The American Trucking Assns. has elected Michael W. Wickham, chairman and CEO of Roadway Express, to a two-year term as chairman of the ATA Foundation board of directors.
* Herb Ulbrich and Steve Sihler have been named national account sales managers for Speedco Truck Lube.
* Hino Diesel Trucks (U.S.A.) has appointed Ted J. Fick to the newly created position of senior vp.
* Mike Starnes, chairman, CEO and president of M.S. Carriers, has been named chairman of the Professional Truck Driver Institute.
* Ann McCulloch has joined the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Assn. as manager for the Automotive Chemical Manufacturers Assn. and the Transportation Safety Equipment Institute.
* Paul E. Harris has joined freightquote.com as vp-sales and marketing.
Arrow Truck Sales has announced the appointment of Edward R. Justis to chief operating officer.
