Here are five things worth knowing today:
1. HNTB reports that nearly 160 million Americans would support road-usage fees such as vehicle miles traveled or mileage-based fees to help fund transportation projects. According to an America THINKS national public opinion survey by HNTB Corporation, these new findings show an increase in favorability compared to a similar survey conducted in 2014 in which 50% of respondents said they would support road usage fees. HNTB has more.
2. The owners of Metro Worldwide Inc., a Long Beach, CA, trucking company, have been charged with 18 counts of workers’ compensation fraud and five counts of failing to pay taxes, My News LA reports. The couple, Alvin Shih Chen and Fiona Chen, allegedly under-reported the firm’s payroll by $4.7 million over a four-year period. The two are awaiting arraignment May 16.
3. Overland Park-based trucking company YRC Worldwide on Thursday reported a net loss of $12 million for the first quarter ending March 31 compared to a reported $21.6 million loss a year earlier, The Kansas City Star reports. YRC CEO told the Star that operating improvements were driven by “consistent improved customer service, base rate increases, tightly managed costs and productivity gains.”
4. Today Chevrolet announced pricing for its new medium-duty trucks will start at $40,900 for a gasoline-powered variant, GM Authority reports. According to the report, last year, General Motors announced a renewed partnership with Isuzu to supply trucks while Chevy would supply the badges and powertrains. “The new trucks wil provide fleets plenty of flexibility in what is desired, starting with regular cab, and crew cab styles,” GM Authority said.
5. Traffic in Jersey City is backed up this morning after a tractor-trailer took out a traffic signal pole near Routes 1&9 and Manhattan Avenue, NewJersey.com reports. Earlier this morning, southbound traffic in the area was being diverted onto the jug handle at County Road and rerouted up Manhattan Avenue. According to the report, the truck did not sustain any damage, but the street lamp pole was ripped out at its base.
