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A “town meeting” on hours-of-service regulations that featured a top federal regulator had nothing to do with new truck equipment but it was one of the highlights of the International Trucking Show.

Meritor Automotive will fold its transmission business into a joint operation with ZF Friedrichshafen AG, marking the second venture this year for the German manufacturer aimed at segments of the medium- and heavy-duty truck markets in North America.

North American truck manufacturers sold 22,499 Class 8 trucks in May, prompting a leading industry analyst to call 1999 sales “about as good as we have seen since the advent of the diesel age.”

As the driver of Eaton’s “innovation” truck approached a slow-moving car, a single beep from a small box on the dashboard of the cab indicated that the truck was within two seconds of a collision if the car stopped suddenly. The Eaton-Vorad collision warning system, along with other high-tech gadgets, was on display during a June 14 demonstration that gave Transport Topics a look at Eaton’s view of the future truck.

SALEM, Ore. - The AAA of Oregon threatened to refer a proposed 5-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax hike to the voters because the package also eliminates Oregon's weight-mile tax on truckers.

One cash-strapped state has passed a measure to increase its fuel tax, and at least three others are considering similar laws to aid their highway funding woes. The Maine Legislature approved a 3-cent fuel tax increase and a $2 vehicle registration fee hike on June 5. Kentucky, Oregon and Virginia are considering raising pump prices — one of the most significant expenses for trucking companies.

Donald J. Schneider, president of Schneider National, made it onto Forbes magazine's 1999 list of the world's richest people. He is listed as having a net worth of $1.0 billion, coming in at number 458 on a list of 465.

United Parcel Service has established a land-based radio system that provides customers real-time tracking information in a way that cuts the package carrier’s cellular network costs. UPS worked with Motorola Corp. to develop and deploy the system, known as DIAD III, at a cost of $100 million. It is being used in 13 metropolitan areas, the carrier said.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance said if Michigan and other states don’t abandon plans to impose business taxes on foreign truckers, the association might seek similar levies on U.S. drivers who cross the border.

The focus was squarely on the bottom line at the first full board meeting of the Truckload Carriers Association since it opted to focus resources on “management issues” and leave policy advocacy to American Trucking Associations.