c a r r ie r  n o t e s

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On Oct. 1, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. started letting its drivers go 62 mph. They had been limited to 59 mph. The company said it was raising the limit after conducting two years of intense safe-driving training and increasing the average experience level of its drivers from four years to more than seven years. It was able to increase the experience level by changing its driver pay to appeal to more experienced drivers. The company also said it cut its driver turnover in half. In 1996, the company reduced the fleet’s speed from 65 to 59 miles per hour.

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Landair Transport Inc., Greeneville, TN, has announced the formation of Landair Dedicated Services. Three veterans in the business will be at the helm of the new division of Landair truckload operations. John Morris, former president of the dedicated services at Builders Transport Inc., and Greg Smith and Mike Davis, vice presidents of Builders Transport, will head up the new Landair division. The purpose of dedicated fleet operations is to provide equipment and personnel on a contractual basis for customers’ exclusive use. Landair will also open a regional services office in Camden, SC.

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Trans-States Lines Inc., Fort Smith, AR, has purchased 270 Navistars. The 9200 Navistar Eagle trucks have 72-inch Pro-Series sleepers and Detroit 12.7-liter engines. The trucks will be delivered over a year beginning in late ’98.

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G.I. Trucking Co., La Mirada, CA, has opened a new terminal in Industry, CA. This terminal will assume 30% of the volume of G.I. Trucking’s largest facility. Earlier this year, the company opened facilities in Albuquerque, NM; El Paso, TX; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK; and Kansas City, KS. The company has 13 terminals in California and has relocated and expanded its terminals in Dallas, Denver and Riverside, CA.

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U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc. has filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Chattanooga, TN, where the company is based, against Phoenix-based Employee Solutions Inc. alleging breach of contract and other claims. Patrick Quinn, U.S. Xpress Enterprises co-chairman, said the company was prepared to reassume responsibility for payroll and benefits, administered by ESI since 1997, and that the pending litigation would not have a material adverse impact on U.S. Xpress.

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Arnold Industries Inc., Lebanon, PA, has named Michael S. Walters president and CEO of Arnold Transportation Services Inc., its truckload subsidiary. Walters has held senior management positions with responsibility for operations and sales with two large truckload carriers. He served most recently as vice president of operations for U.S. Xpress. Walters will be based at the Arnold Transportation operations headquarters in Jacksonville, FL.

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KLLM Transport Inc., Jackson, MS, announced that its board of directors has accepted the resignation of Steven K. Bevilaqua as president, CEO and a director of the company. The company’s board of directors has appointed former vice president of sales and marketing William J. Liles III to fill Bevilaqua’s positions.

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Melton Truck Lines, Tulsa, OK, has implemented its Independent Contractor Services program, which will allow Melton drivers the opportunity to become independent contractors, increase the size of Melton’s fleet and allow improved response to customer’s needs. To qualify, drivers must be employed with Melton for a minimum of six months and have driven at least 600,000 accident-free miles. The company will offer 1996 model trucks for the contractors to lease or purchase.

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Averitt Express, Cookeville, TN, has added 600 new Volvo VN Series trucks to its fleet. The trucks include VNM daycabs and Volvo 610 Integral Sleeper tractors. Ten percent of the engines are Volvo and the rest are Cummins. The trucks — to be delivered by November ’98 — will feature Eaton Fuller transmissions and Eaton drive axles.

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Roberson Transportation Cos., Champaign, IL, has promoted Donald A. Orr to vice chairman and CEO and Brain P. Griffin to president. Roger T. Roberson remains chairman of the board and majority stockholder. Orr has been with the companies since 1985 and has served as chairman of the Truckload Carriers Assoc., chairman of the Illinois Transportation Assns. and vice president of the American Trucking Assns. Griffin joined Roberson in 1995 as director of marketing after working for American Trucking Assns. He is a member of the ATA Sales and Marketing Council’s board of directors.

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MS Carriers, Memphis, TN, has contracted to purchase 177 Volvo VN Series 6100 Integral Sleeper tractors to be delivered by the end of November. The new trucks will add the carrier’s 120 unit lease operator program. Overall, there are 2,600 trucks in the carrier’s fleet. “The lease program gives many drivers an opportunity to build equity in a company-owned truck,” said Bob Hurt, vice president of fleet maintenance. “They have the option to buy at the end of the program.”

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USFHolland has opened a new, full-service terminal in Mansfield, OH. The facility will provide less-than-truckload service to customers located in Ashland, Bucyrus,Crestline, Galion, Mansfield, Marion, Mount Vernon, New London, Willard, Wooster and surrounding areas in north central Ohio.

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MSAS Global Logistics, Burlingame, CA, has acquired Skyking Freight Systems, headquartered in Carrollton,TX. MSAS plans to launch an aggressive market expansion in North America to deliver an international and domestic logistics solution to its customers. The existing Skyking infrastructure is expected to remain unchanged, as Skyking employees will be trained in MSAS Global Logistics’ systems and technology.