7/25/2008
TIM UNRUH
The high cost of fuel is powering tough times in the trucking industry and threatening the existence of at least one longtime freight hauler, Jim Palmer Trucking.
“It’s a very tense time in the industry right now. We’re hearing that it’s extremely tough out there,” said Tom Whitaker, executive director of the Kansas Motor Carrier Association, Topeka.
Lonnie Wallace would attest to that claim. The president of Jim Palmer Trucking, which is based in Missoula, Mont., and has a terminal in Salina, is determined to lead the company through federal bankruptcy protection during this period of high fuel prices.
The firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 10 and July 15 at federal court in Butte, Mont. Three companies filed — two Jim Palmer Equipment firms and Jim Palmer Trucking.
“With some reorganization and some restructuring of our debt, we feel confident that we’ll come out of this pretty strong, but right now we’re just battling the inability to keep up with costs,” Wallace said.


Read more about Palmer Trucking in Saturday's Salina Journal.