Category Archives: transportation

Kansas Refinery to pay $1 Million Fine for Pollution Violations

Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing (CRRM) will pay a civil penalty of more than $970,000 and invest more than $4.25 million on new pollution controls and $6.5 million in operating costs to end violations of air, superfund and community right-to-know laws at its Coffeyville, Kansas refinery. CRRM’s refinery has the capacity to refine more than 115,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing gasoline, diesel fuels and propane. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, environment, litigation, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Vehicle Ownership Now at a Record 71 Months

The average length of vehicle ownership that were purchased as new has risen to a record 71.4 months, or nearly six years, according to the latest Polk registration data. Consumers who purchased used vehicles held them nearly 49.9 months. Combined, new and used vehicle owners are holding on to their vehicles for an average 57 months. Continue reading

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, economy, marketing, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Things Fly Website Compliments Smithsonian Exhibit

The National Air and Space Museum now has a companion electronic exhibit to its most popular physical exhibit covering the basic principles of flight. In this new How Things Fly website viewers can explore the flight environment, aerodynamics, propulsion, structures and materials, flight dynamics and see the forces of flight- all in interactive action. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, news, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Distracted Driving Prompts Technology Forced Compliance

Most fleet managers lack confidence in current enforcement methods, so 27% plan to investigate cell phone use analytics and 21% plan to explore ‘smartphone’ software within the next twelve months to automate and force employee compliance with regulations and company policies. Translation: big brother is going to get bigger, ultimately with privacy and civil liberty implications for all drivers. It is also just a matter of time before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets more involved in regulating all drivers. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, distracted driving, news, news analysis, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Federal Regs Work as Airlines Cut Delays and Cancellations

It is a clear example of the effectiveness and the need for government regulation of industry since airline passengers were not treated fairly or getting reliable transportation until DOT put in place regulations with stiff fines to stop all too common abuses. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, customer satisfaction, news, performance, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dover Chemical to Pay $1.4 Million for Making Oil Additives

Dover Chemical Corporation has agreed to pay $1.4 million in civil penalties for the unauthorized manufacture of chlorinated paraffin chemicals at facilities in Dover, Ohio, and Hammond, Ind. The settlement resolves violations of pre-manufacture notice obligations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for Dover Chemical’s production of various chlorinated paraffins used in oil additives and coolants, in widespread use in the automobiles, automaking and other industries. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, news, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alcoa Expanding to Make More Lightweight Aluminum Alloys

With the auto industry now pursuing composites to reduce weight to meet increasingly stringent emission and fuel economy standards, the increased supply of lightweight aluminum alloys could find its way onto production automobiles. The question is at what rate? Continue reading

Posted in auto news, aviation, fuel economy or emissions, news, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Salvage Firm Links with Chinese Recycler to Export Autos

Chenlong is the first company in China to complete the installation of a shredder built specifically for the processing of scrap steel that includes automobiles coming from the United States. Continue reading

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, environment, news, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PBGC Says American Airlines Workers Should Worry About Pensions and Medical Care – So Should Taxpayers

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has called out what it says is misleading statements to American Airlines employees by its management about their pension plans under a bankruptcy reorganization. “American Airlines is telling their workers and retirees not to worry, … Continue reading

Posted in aviation, economy, financial results, labor issues, news, news analysis, people, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tougher DOT Airline Regulations Take Effect This Week

In addition, airlines will be required to promptly notify passengers of flight delays of over 30 minutes, as well as flight cancellations and diversions, and they will generally be prohibited from increasing the price of passengers’ ticket after it is bought. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, customer satisfaction, news, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Beware of Super Bowl Air Travel Ticket Scams DOT Warns

DOT’s rules state that if a tour was described as including a game ticket and you do not receive one, you are entitled to a full refund of the entire package price upon your return. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, customer satisfaction, news, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Average Age of U.S. Vehicles Reaches Record High

Perhaps more significantly for automakers, 2011 ended the U.S. vehicle population decline that has occurred annually since 2008. This worrisome trend meant households were decreasing the number of vehicles. According to Polk, the total vehicles in operation – VIO – in July 2011 was just over 240.5 million, an increase of 500,000 units over July in the previous year, and nearly equal to 2009 VIO. The highest VIO on record was achieved in July 2008, when more than 242 million passenger cars and light trucks were on America’s roads. The financial markets collapsed that fall. Continue reading

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, news analysis, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chevrolet Volt Hybrids for China arrive at Shanghai

Due to a combination of tariffs and incentives for locally-produced Chinese vehicles – at the core of China’s job creating industrial policy – the Michigan built Volt (more than $40,000 in the U.S. without government incentives) will be at about a $19,000 per hybrid disadvantage, not good news for UAW employees who build the Volt in Hamtramck. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, economy, electric vehicles, marketing, news, news analysis, prices, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Iran Threatens to Close Strait of Hormuz, Shut Off Oil Supply. Here We Go With Another Oil Crisis Caused by Despots?

The larger issue remains an amorphous U.S. strategy conducted and – alas – at times directed in Washington by big money interests that care not about the welfare of the United States or its citizens. U.S. energy policy going back to President Carter and the first OPEC oil embargo four decades ago has failed under one-term Carter and every successive President and Congress since – Democrat or Republican – to eliminate this security threat – as well as the corresponding national economic decline posed by oil imports and the resulting enormous transfer of U.S. wealth overseas. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, economy, fuel economy or emissions, news, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

FAA Clears Santa Claus One for Christmas Eve Flight

Santa Claus has been flying accident-free for centuries, and FAA safety inspectors have cleared Santa Claus One–the world’s only known reindeer-powered aircraft–to deliver presents to children around the world this year. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, aviation, news, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment