Business

About Business News...

Transport Topics business coverage focuses on the financial, economic, and commercial aspects of the modern freight business. Looking at both the microeconomic and macroeconomic forces shaping bottom lines, the news in this category includes labor news, jobs reports, tonnage and sales indicators, operations analysis, money and banking, mergers, acquisitions, e-commerce, bankruptcy, insurance issues, and more.

Government, Business, Fuel

Canadian Oil Prices Bounce Back From One-Year Low

Canadian crude rebounded from a one-year low after inventories fell and Alberta’s premier pledged to defend prices.

Robert Tuttle | Bloomberg News
January 29, 2020
Business, Equipment, Safety

Tailgate Problems Prompt Ford F-150 Recall in Canada, but not US

Ford is recalling its popular F-150 pickup truck in Canada to fix a problem with electric tailgate latches, but identical trucks aren’t being recalled in the U.S.

Tom Krisher | Associated Press
January 29, 2020
Business, Technology

Ford’s Lincoln Partners With Rivian for First Electric Model

Lincoln is building its first fully electric vehicle with Rivian Automotive Inc., the battery-powered truck and SUV maker Ford Motor Co. backed with a $500 million investment last year.

Keith Naughton | Bloomberg News
January 29, 2020
Government, Business, Technology

US Grounds Chinese-Made Drones, Citing Security Fears

The Interior Department is banning nonemergency flights of its fleet of 810 drones as it reviews national security concerns about the Chinese-made devices.

January 29, 2020
Government, Business

Trump Signs USMCA Agreement Into Law

President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 signed into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico that he said replaces the “nightmare” of a Clinton-era agreement and will keep jobs, wealth and growth in America.

Kevin Freking and Paul Wiseman | Associated Press
January 29, 2020
Government, Business, Safety

Senator, USDOT Officials Highlight Rural Transportation Needs

The next set of guidelines Congress approves for the country’s highway programs must improve roadways across rural corridors, Nebraska Republican Sen. Deb Fischer said during a Commerce Committee hearing Jan. 28.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
January 29, 2020
Business, Technology, Equipment

Fleets Manage Parts in Multiple Ways

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Fleets have found various ways to handle the need for parts: expanding inventory levels, not substituting cheaper but less reliable ones for critical parts, doing some warranty work themselves, keeping the average age of trucks low or turning to electric trucks.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
January 29, 2020
Business, Equipment

Eaton, Meritor Expand Aftermarket Parts Approaches

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Tier 1 commercial vehicle suppliers Eaton and Meritor Inc. presented their latest approaches to serving customers in the aftermarket.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
January 29, 2020
Government, Business, Technology, Safety, Breaking News

FMCSA Announces Two-Year Delay of Its Entry Level Driver Training Rule

The so-called Entry Level Driver Training rule — originally set to go into effect Feb. 7 — is delayed until Feb. 7, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Jan. 29 in an interim final rule.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
January 29, 2020
Government, Business

Longshore Union, Which Handles West Coast Containers, Could Face Bankruptcy

The union that handles every shipping container that crosses West Coast docks is bracing for bankruptcy. It’s a rare prospect for a bargaining group, and it’s rattling organized labor nationally.

Richard Read | The Oregonian
January 29, 2020