THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996 TAG: 9602220431
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Norfolk Southern Corp. and two other large railroads announced Wednesday that they were setting up a nationwide container-sharing system. Called the North American Container System, the network reaches every major market in the United States. With double-stack service coast-to-coast and restriction-free movements between railroads, the system is set up to encourage shippers to use its containers rather than conventional truck trailers. Starting March 18, the fleet is expected to grow to 2,500 48-foot containers. Joining Norfolk Southern in the venture are Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Conrail Inc. (Staff) Peninsula company to add employees
A company that began operating a package-tracking center in Newport News for United Parcel Service last year will hire 100 more people because of growth in UPS sales. When APAC TeleServices Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, opened the center, it estimated it would employ about 800 people. The company predicts it will have a staff of 1,200 by April. At full capacity, the center's representatives will handle 35,000 calls a day, fielding questions on everything from lost packages to delivery rates. There are currently 1,000 employees at the center, located in the Warwick Village shopping center. Customer-service jobs at the center pay $7.50 an hour. (Associated Press) Conrail offers early retirement to staffers
Conrail Inc., the Philadelphia-based railroad, hopes to cut 900 non-union jobs with an early retirement plan and a voluntary separation program announced Wednesday. The railroad, which serves the Northeast, has about 3,000 non-union employees of which 379 are eligible for early retirement. Another 2,400 with 15 years of service at the company are being offered voluntary separation. If the goal of eliminating 900 jobs isn't reached, the company may use layoffs to attain the goal, an official said. (Staff) Everything's A Dollar recalls wooden toy trucks
Everything's A Dollar, a Milwaukee-based chain of dollar stores, says consumers should return more than 9,000 wooden toy trucks because young children could choke on some of their parts. The 5 1/2-inch Big Wooden Trucks have red wheels and headlights, and a driver with a yellow hat and red body. They came with multicolored abacus beads, six multicolored discs or five lettered and numbered discs. More than 200 ``Everything's $1.00'' retail stores sold 9,382 of the trucks nationwide. Consumers should return them to the store for a full refund. They also may contact Everything's A Dollar at (414) 274-2575. (AP) by CNB