subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Jul 23 2008 

Published May 02, 2008 10:31 am -

White’s Tire deserves apology



White’s Tire officials have every right to feel vindicated by the release last week of a legislative consultant’s report on tire retreading. They shouldn’t expect an apology, although one is warranted.

Legislators allied with White’s competitors had excoriated the Wilson company, which has held the state retreading contract for 27 years, suggesting that it was awarded bids somehow unfairly and that its bead-to-bead retread process was unsafe. Unable to outlaw the bead-to-bead process — and thereby disqualify White’s from state contracts — legislators paid a consultant to examine the retread process and contracts and report back to the General Assembly. Originally due last summer, the report was finally delivered last week.

The consultants’ conclusion? White’s bead-to-bead retreads are every bit as good as competitors, and in some ways better. All the available processes provide quality at a low cost per mile. And White’s customers, in particular, are delighted with the quality of their products.

This is not what White’s rivals and their legislative minions had hoped for. The report gives high grades to White’s, both in quality and in economy.

In a just world, this would be the end of the school bus retread controversy, but this is not about the tire business, it’s about politics. Although vindicated by the study by consultants chosen by the legislators who had tried to revoke the state contracts White’s had won in competitive bidding, White’s may still have to fight off surreptitious attacks. Attempts to disqualify White’s bead-to-bead process, despite the consultant’s report, could continue. Other sly contract specifications could be used to put White’s at a disadvantage.

The public must not allow that to happen. The consultant suggests that fewer, not more, specifications be included in the state’s requests for bids. The state’s more detailed specifications could hinder technological advancements and hamper competition, the consultant said. Simplifying retread specifications and allowing the tire market to determine best practices would be a wise move for the state.

Legislators need to stay out of bid specifications in this and other state contracts. And competitors in the retread business should be told by legislators that if they want to beat White’s, they must do so in a fair bidding process, not in legislative back rooms.

— The Wilson Daily Times



print this story    email this story   




monster
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Front End Manager
A new opportunity is awaiting a personable, energetic, ambitious individual at Fred’s Food Club in Rocky Mount, N.C. We...>MORE

Sales Position - Greenville
Sales position available in Greenville, NC. If you are an aggressive, ethical, self starter with the desire to earn $75,...>MORE

Full Time Cashier
in multi-speciality clinic setting. Receive patient payments (cash & bankcard), provide account balances, issue receipts...>MORE

Our Best Industrial Job
looking to move up to a better job?
Have the ability to motivate others?
One of the biggest and best companies
...>MORE

Make A Difference!
V.I.S.I.O.N. Inc. is seeking highly motivated, positive individuals to make a difference in the lives of children, youth...>MORE

Help Wanted - Convenience Store Clerk
Nights and weekends. Call Manager Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday - Friday
827-2402
...>MORE

Feed Truck Driver - Night sHift
Feed truck driver - night shift Tarboro, NC. Haul feed from mill to various farm locations. Ensure correct delivery by...>MORE

Industrial Mechanic Needed Immediately!
IMMEDIATE NEED!

Torpedo Specialty Wire, Inc., a leading manufacturer in the specialty wire industry is interv
...>MORE

Immediate Opening
General Assignment Reporter
There's even an oppertunity for osme page design and photography on M-F daily commited
...>MORE

Business Manager Needed
Business Manager Needed
Position Overview
The essential functions of this position are forecasting, reporting
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

It's all online at DougHenryTarboro.com
"An American Revolution"
DOUG HENRY CHEVROLET
609 West Wilson Street
Taboro, N.C.
823-3145
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc