Your Feb. 26 Pre-Trip: Trucking company owner convicted in murder-for-hire case

Feb. 26, 2016
Here are five things worth knowing today.
Here are five things worth knowing today: 1. The operator of an oil trucking company in North Dakota has been convicted of orchestrating the killings of two business rivals, the Daily Globe reports. James Henrikson has been convicted of hiring a man to kill Kristopher Clarke in February 2012 and Douglas Carlile in December 2013, according to the report. Clarke and Carlile were Henrikson’s business rivals in North Dakota’s Bakken Oil Patch. Henrikson faces the possibility of life in prison when he is sentenced on May 24. The Daily Globe has more.2. According to AAA, drowsy driving causes about 328,000 crashes annually, and nearly 87% of U.S. drivers engage in at least one risky behavior behind the wheel, the East Valley Tribune reports. According to the report, at least one in three drivers say they’ve driven while tired in the last month; nearly half of drivers report speeding over 15 mph on highways; and more than two in five drivers report reading text or email in the past 30 days.3. A federal judge has instructed Volkswagen AG to fix nearly 600,000 diesel-powered vehicles on U.S. roads violating pollution laws within the next month, Nasdaq reports. Judge Breyer gave the company until no later than March 24 to give him a detailed update on how the automaker intends to fix the vehicles. Nasdaq has more.4. According to a Phys Org report, driverless vehicles could increase reliance on roadways. According to the report, a study led by a University of Leeds researcher finds that driverless vehicles could intensify car use, reducing or eliminating promised energy savings and environmental benefits. Phys Org has more.5. Gas prices in Southern California could jump 37 cents per gallon this weekend, San Jose Mercury News reports. The state average was $2.31 on Thursday, according to the report, but several stations in San Jose bumped prices 3 cents or more from a day earlier. Mercury News has more.

About the Author

Cristina Commendatore

Cristina Commendatore was previously the Editor-in-chief of FleetOwner magazine. She reported on the transportation industry since 2015, covering topics such as business operational challenges, driver and technician shortages, truck safety, and new vehicle technologies. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Seasonal Strategies for Maintaining a Safe & Efficient Fleet Year-Round

Prepare your fleet for every season! From winterizing vehicles to summer heat safety, our eBook covers essential strategies for year-round fleet safety. Download now to reduce...

Streamline Compliance, Ensure Safety and Maximize Driver's Time

Truck weight isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when considering operational efficiency, hours-of-service regulations, and safety ratings, but it can affect all three.

Improve Safety and Reduce Risk with Data from Route Scores

Route Scores help fleets navigate the risk factors they encounter in the lanes they travel, helping to keep costs down.

Celebrating Your Drivers Can Prove to be Rewarding For Your Business

Learn how to jumpstart your driver retention efforts by celebrating your drivers with a thoughtful, uniform-led benefits program by Red Kap®. Uniforms that offer greater comfort...