91ÊÓƵ

Long-haul drivers who work for less in return for being reimbursed for their meals are better off financially than drivers who get full pay and take the meals deduction, said David Goodson, editor of the National Survey of Driver Wages.

There was no magic on display at the Society of Automotive Engineers annual Truck and Bus Conference last week as manufacturers were workign feverishly to build products that meet a variety of looming federal standards.

While trucking has had to deal with more pressing issues like higher fuel prices and a softening freight market, one expert at this year's Management Outlook Forum said driver pay is still a big problem.

In the news this morning: Snow hits St. Louis as winter storm heads east; Logistics.Com selects new CEO; Valeo plans job cuts at U.S. parts plant; and more.

Today's technology headlines: Samsung to put Palm OS on new 'smart' phones; executives see three electronic trends revolutionizing logistics; and a glimpse at the wireless future.

This afternoon's headlines: Texas ice storm causes road delays; Midwest roads slick but still open; former Ford CFO named new GM CFO; and more.

Truckload carriers Swift Transportation Inc. and M.S. Carriers announced a merger late Monday. The $384 million deal will make M.S. Carriers a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swift, the companies said.

Lower oil prices, moderate economic growth and a drop in interest rates should bode well for trucking in 2001 — at least for companies that survive the bankruptcies and consolidations predicted to sweep the industry, according to the experts at this year's Management Outlook Forum.

The Department of Defense announced the creation of a joint military-industry fuel price board in a step toward payment of a fuel surcharge by the Pentagon for the transport of goods by commercial motor carriers.

While the Canadian trucking industry is hopeful that the recently elected government will put transportation policies on the agenda, their pre-election report card suggests that will not necessarily be the case.