Reading Between the Lines

The curtain is rising on a new Chrysler. Just a week after inking a global strategic alliance with Italy’s Fiat Group, Chrysler Group LLC has announced it will resume volume production.

Seven of its North American assembly plants will start up again the week of June 29th. As part of a phased production ramp-up, these plants are scheduled to resume production at the end of the month:

Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (Sterling Heights, MI) – Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger

Warren Truck Assembly Plant (Warren, MI) – Dodge Ram and Dodge Dakota

St. Louis North Assembly Plant (Fenton, MO) – Dodge Ram

Toledo Supplier Park (Toledo, OH) – Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Brampton Assembly Plant (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) – Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Challenger

Windsor Assembly Plant (Windsor, ON) – Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan

Toluca Assembly Plant (Toluca, MX) – Dodge Journey and Chrysler PT Cruiser

In addition, Chrysler Group’s Powertrain and Stamping facilities, which supply these plants, will also be operating. And the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant– which builds the Dodge Viper sports car– resumed production earlier this week. The OEM noted that all Chrysler Group plants will be closed for a previously announced summer break the weeks of July 13 and 20. Chryler said the re-start of production at other assembly plants will be announced at a later date.



How can anyone not love a company that builds a car like this?

This is certainly a positive development for Chrysler and Detroit in general as well as for North American consumers and business owners aching to hear word that something, anything is getting back to something looking even just a little bit like normal. And, to be sure, it’s good news for anyone who hauls auto freight.

So welcome back Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge (especially its truck operation!) and a hearty grazie to Fiat for riding to the rescue.

Now it’s up to the new Fiat-Chrysler managment team to make the beleaugured automaker a vigorous and profitable contender in the highy competitive and global marketplace for cars and trucks.

Fleet owners and other trucking stakeholders should be cheered to learn President Obama has announced he will nominate Anne S. Ferro as Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Ferro should come to this key Federal highway-safety post fully cognizant of what trucking is all about as she currently holds the position of president & CEO of the Maryland Motor Truck Assn. (MMTA).

What’s more, she served as Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administrator from 1997 to 2003 where “she established a strong record in highway safety, regulatory compliance and agency leadership,” stated a White House news release on her nomination. “She has extensive experience in driver and vehicle safety having led the [Maryland] agency’s efforts to establish a graduated licensing program for new drivers in Maryland as well as a model for older driver research,” according to the Obama Administration.



Anne S. Ferro, nominated to be FMCSA Administrator

Her resume includes a stint as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (formerly Ivory Coast) in West Africa. In addition to her duties heading MMTA, Ferro serves on several regional advisory committees relating to freight planning, highway safety and transportation funding.

Ferro was named Maryland’s Port Woman of the Year for 2008. She holds a Masters in Public Management from the University of Maryland as well as Bachelor of Arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis.