A federal regulator says Canadian National Railway Co. (TSX:CNR) has failed to meet its level-of-service obligations to the Canadian Wheat Board and five other shippers for services provided for the 2006-07 crop year.
Under the Canada Transportation Act, shippers can file a complaint if they believe railway companies fail to provide adequate and suitable service to them.
The Canadian Wheat Board called the ruling "a milestone victory."
It said the issue was CN's 2006 decision to provide most of its advance-booked grain hopper cars in blocks of 100, booked for 42 consecutive weeks to a single destination - called the GX100 program.
"This system essentially prevented participation by smaller shippers and those without multiple terminals. It also failed to satisfy the diverse needs of Prairie farmers in moving their grain to port," the wheat board stated in a release Friday.
The transportation agency said its ruling that it recognizes that CN, the country's largest railway, has revised its grain product programs for 2007-08 in an effort to address shortfalls.
However, the transportation agency also said it had insufficient information to rule on the 2007-08 crop year at this time.
It has ordered CN and the six shippers to file service information for the period of August 2007 to April 2008 adding, "the agency will be able to make a final determination on the adequacy of CN's service to grain shippers once it has all the necessary information."
CN spokesperson Jim Feeny said the ruling is related to a similar one made in July which directed the company to make changes to its car allocation and ordering program.
"The agency acknowledges we made those changes and now has asked for more information on service and performance, which we will fully comply with," Feeny said in an interview.
Besides the Canadian Wheat Board, the other five shippers to complain about CN were: North East Terminal Ltd., Paterson Grain, Parrish and Heimbecker Ltd., Providence Grain Group Inc. and North West Terminal Ltd.
Source :http://www.brandonsun.com
Friday, January 18, 2008
Transportation Agency says CN fails to meet service obligations to wheat board
The politics of transportation
This was the just the kind of advice that Congress could have done without.
Three years ago, Congress created a special panel to come up with ways to finance the country’s highways
The current highway plan is running a deficit, and lapses next year. The new plan needs money. The new plan will be critical for funding new highway projects in the Kansas City area, including light rail.
The problem? The new plan. The so-called National Surface Trans-portation Policy and Revenue Commission came up with an idea that just about everyone hates: Raise the gas tax by up to 40 cents over five years.
The commission also recommended imposing fees on bus and train tickets as well cargo to help spread the financial burden around. Bottom line, if we want better ways to get around, including light rail for Kansas City, we’re going to have to pay.
The U.S. Transportation Department, no friend of raising the gas tax, has been circulating a press release showing the national reaction, mostly from Republicans, to the proposed tax hike.
Here is a sampling tof he quotes, confirmed by PrimeBuzz, about Congress’ reaction to the tax increase.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa and the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee: “Raising gas taxes should be a last resort. Instead, it’s a first resort for this commission. Raising the gas tax would put us in the fast lane to a recession. Businesses and consumers depend on strong transportation infrastructure. A gas tax increase would ramp up transportation costs without ensuring road improvements.”
U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla. and ranking member of the House transportation committee: “A dramatic increase in the gas tax does not stand a snowball’s chance in hell of passing Congress."
U.S. Rep Roy Blunt, R-Mo. and Republican whip: “As Congress and the administration work to create a package to stimulate our economy, it should be obvious that more than doubling the federal gas tax on working Americans would have precisely the opposite effect.”
And here is what other folks have said.
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, an Oregon Democrat and highway subcommittee chairman on the House transportation committee:
“It is imperative that the federal government lead the way in investment in our infrastruc-ture. Without substantial commitment on the federal level, our transportation infrastruc-ture will continue to deteriorate to a third world status.”
U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn. and chairman of the House transportation committee: “This report does precisely what the commission was instructed to do: It lifts our vision above the horizon; challenges our thought processes with innovative ways of addressing es-tablished, vexing, complex problems that seem irreconcilable.”
Source :http://primebuzz.kcstar.com
Thursday, June 28, 2007
S&P 500 Glance: Transportation
As the first half of the year winds down, the transportation industry group of the S&P 500 has outperformed the average stock in the index.
The group is up 12.4 percent for the year to date. The average stock in the S&P 500 is up 8.1 percent for the year.
Within the group, the best performer has been CSX Corp., with a gain of 30.9 percent. The worst performer has been Southwest Airlines, with a decline of 3.2 percent.
Source :http://www.chron.com
Pennsylvania House OKs transportation funding plan; tolls touted for I-80
Truckers and other travelers would pay to roll down Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, under a $700 million transportation funding package approved in the state’s House.
The Democratic-led House voted 105-96, mostly along party lines, to advance the bill intended to raise money for roads, bridges and mass transit. It now heads to the Senate where Republicans hold the majority.
The bill also would authorize a study of putting tolls on Interstate 95 and bonding the Pennsylvania Turnpike, among other things.
The plan emerged after Gov. Ed Rendell last week announced he was dropping his pursuit to lease the Turnpike, impose a tax on oil company profits and increase the state sales tax by 1 percent. The Democratic governor touted his plan as a way to generate $1.7 billion in new transportation funding.
Supporters of the House-approved plan say tolling along I-80 would be set up to eliminate or minimize fees for local drivers by building collection sites at New Jersey and Ohio borders. However, the bill doesn’t specify how that would work, The Associated Press reported.
Opponents, including the state’s trucking industry, say the plan to toll the 313-mile east-west route likely would be challenged as unconstitutional.
One other potential stumbling block for charging vehicles to travel along I-80 is a requirement that the federal government authorize the state to convert the existing road into a “pay-as-you-go” route.
Rep. Richard Grucela, D-Northampton, said he supported the bill because it is the lesser of evils to generate revenue for transportation. He is opposed to turnpike privatization or a fuel tax increase.
Another provision in the bill would require municipalities to match 20 percent of state funding for mass transit systems. They would be allowed to raise the money with income, sales, hotel room or vehicle rental taxes. Localities now are required to chip in 13 percent, The Express-Times reported.
Source :http://www.landlinemag.com
Transportation boss vows Pike fix
The state’s top transportation official has ordered a top-to-bottom overhaul of the scandal-scarred Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, including new financial controls to help dig the agency out of a $2 billion debt as it prepares to hike tolls next year.
Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen also called for the development of a new maintenance plan for metropolitan roadways and the Big Dig, a nod to the shocking oversight breakdown that led to the Interstate 90 tunnel ceiling collapse that killed motorist Milena Del Valle.
“This is a turnaround situation as far as I’m concerned,” Cohen said, citing the Turnpike’s deep financial and legal troubles. “All of these woes have taken a toll on this agency and left it with a damaged reputation, an unclear mission and an uncertain future.”
During a press conference yesterday, Cohen announced the appointment of Mary Jane O’Meara - currently director of Tobin Bridge operations - as interim executive director of the Turnpike Authority starting July 1. He said he will continue to search for a permanent executive director while he seeks to increase the job’s salary to as much as $190,000 from the current $140,000.
State Sen. Steve Baddour (D-Methuen), co-chairman of the Legislature’s transportation committee, said he’s “disappointed” an executive director could not be found for the lower salary, but added, “To me, it’s more important we get a professional as opposed to a hack.”
Salaries for similar positions in New York and New Jersey are on the lower end of the proposed range. In those states, highway chiefs make $165,000 and $150,000, respectively. In Pennsylvania, which has a much larger highway system, the turnpike director makes $184,000.
Cohen said immediate measures will include new monthly financial reports, a top-to-bottom organizational review and development of a maintenance plan for the Big Dig and surrounding roadways.
Source :http://news.bostonherald.com
Friday, June 22, 2007
AmeriQuest Transportation President and CEO, Douglas Clark Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2007 Award Winner in Greater Philadelphia R
AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources, a leading provider of comprehensive fleet management services in North America, today announced that Douglas Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2007 Award in the service category in the Greater Philadelphia Region. According to Ernst & Young, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. Mr. Clark was selected by an independent panel of judges and the award was presented at an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year gala event at The Loews Hotel in Philadelphia, PA, June 21, 2007.
Mr. Clark created a patented business model that AmeriQuest provides to the transportation industry to drive efficiencies and cost savings out of the supply chain. The company leverages the strength of over 700,000 vehicles to deliver savings, expertise and opportunities to its private fleet, common carrier and lease/rental members.
"AmeriQuest exists to ensure that small and medium size companies can be competitive with the biggest players in the transportation industry," said Mr. Clark. "I am honored to receive this award on behalf of all entrepreneurs who question the status quo and continually search for intelligent ways to enhance and refine the way they approach their business challenges."
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 21st anniversary this year and continues to honor entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
"Ernst & Young is honored to recognize extraordinary business leaders, such as Douglas Clark, and the companies they have built," said Donna Palmer, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program director for the Greater Philadelphia Region.
As a Greater Philadelphia Region award winner, Mr. Clark is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2007 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 17, 2007. The national Entrepreneur Of The Year celebration is part of Ernst & Young's Strategic Growth Forum. The overall national Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipient is then considered for the world event held in Monte Carlo.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are pleased to have Bank of America as the national presenting sponsor, as well as SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as national sponsors.
In the Greater Philadelphia Region, local sponsors include Morgan Lewis, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Philadelphia Business Journal, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP and Marsh.
About AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources
AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources is a leading provider of comprehensive fleet management services in North America. By leveraging the strength of over 700,000 vehicles, AmeriQuest delivers savings, expertise and opportunities to its private fleet, common carrier, and lease/rental members. AmeriQuest provides supply management services, asset management services, technology products, and outsourced transportation management services such as full-service leasing, integrated logistics, and contract maintenance.
About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards
The Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) awards program was created and is produced by professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. As the first award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses. The program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006, honors entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award programs in over 125 cities and 40 countries.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to enhancing the public's trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 114,000 people in 140 countries pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism in providing a range of sophisticated services centered on our core competencies of auditing, accounting, tax, and transactions. Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at http://www.ey.com/perspectives. Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, a U.K. company limited by guarantee, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited does not provide services to clients. Ernst & Young LLP is a U.S. client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.
Source :http://sev.prnewswire.com
New England officials gather for transportation summit
Politicians and mass transit advocates from New England and New York state are in Springfield today talking about ways to connect the region with public transportation.
They say roads and highways are so jammed with cars that it makes sense to use other modes of transportation. There's already a plan underway to link Springfield and Hartford with a commuter train, and the officials say they want to use more public transportation to ease the congestion in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Peter Picknelly -- who runs the Springfield-based Peter Pan bus line -- says he's worried that too much attention is being given to trains. He says buses are a more cost-effective way of moving people through the region.
The people at today's so-called transportation summit agreed there's a need to be a way to connect and coordinate bus and train routes
Source :http://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/