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The Persian Gulf oil crisis[23], ignited in August 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait, proved particularly costly to the transportation industry. By November the average price of diesel fuel used by truckers had soared to $1.54 a gallon, up from about $1 a gallon in July.
In December 1989 the U.S. Department of Transportation began to implement its drug-testing program for 4 million transport workers, including interstate commercial truck and bus drivers. The program covers companies employing more than 50 persons. Companies with fewer employees were given an additional year to comply with the requirements of the program. According to the rule that became effective on February 1, 1990, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)[24] limited post-accident drug testing in the trucking industry to those accidents in which the truck driver was at fault. The FHWA also eliminated the pre-employment testing requirement for drivers who had already passed a drug test in the previous six months.
In the latest six-month period, the truckers hauled 88.9 million revenue tons of cargo, up 3.7 percent from 1989. In the second quarter, the truckers reported $242.2 million in net operating income, down 15 percent from the same three-month period in 1989. Operating revenue in the second quarter came to $5.4 billion, up 5 percent. Revenue tons hauled in the second quarter totaled 45.5 million, up 3.6 percent from the previous year.
A bill to prohibit motor carriers and railroads from hauling food and other "sensitive products" one way and backhauling garbage and chemicals in the same vehicle was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives[25] in March and by the Senate on September 20. It was signed into law by President George Bush on November 3.
At the request of the American Bus Association, the United Bus Owners of America, and Action on Smoking and Health, the ICC opened proceedings to determine whether smoking should be banned on all interstate buses and charter operations.
Beginning in 1990, Ontario[26] opened its provincial roads to longer trucks, putting new pressure on the New England states, which favored shorter rigs. Ontario allowed tractor-trailer combinations 75 feet long, 6 feet longer than previously permitted.
Task 2. Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions using the active vocabulary and the information in the text above.
1. Why did the Persian Gulf oil crisis affect the US transportation industry?
2. What was the diesel fuel price in the USA in November 1990?
3. When did the U.S. Department of Transportation begin to implement the drug-testing program?
4. What companies did the drug-testing program cover?
5. What was the main task of the drug-testing program?
6. What were the economic indicators of the US trucking industry in 1990?
7. What bill was passed by the US Senate on September 20?
8. When was the bill signed into law?
Task 3. Fill in the gaps with appropriate prepositions and translate the sentences into your mother tongue. Consult the text above.
1. Smoking should be banned ___ all buses.
2. The average price of diesel fuel used ___ truckers soared ___ $1.54 a gallon.
3. The bill was passed ___ the U.S. House of Representatives ___ March.
4. The bill was signed ___ law by President George Bush __ November 3.
5. The ICC opened proceedings ___ the request of the American Bus Association and the United Bus Owners.
6. The law prohibits motor carriers ___ hauling food one way and backhauling garbage and chemicals in the same vehicle.
7. The oil crisis proved costly ___ the transportation industry.
8. The truck driver was ___ fault.
9. The truckers reported $242.2 million ____ net operating income.
10. This rule became effective ___ May 22, 2008.
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| II. Lexical exercises | | | I. Active vocabulary |