Business
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.
US Logistics Costs Rise 11.4% in 2018, Report Says
Businesses spent $1.64 trillion on transportation and logistics services in the United States in 2018, a jump of 11.4% from the prior year, as companies retooled supply chains in response to the growth in online sales and tight capacity drove up freight rates.
Perspective: The Movement of Goods Can Be Eased by Technology
Companies must consider tools that can improve control over the distribution process and maximize efforts that contribute to the bottom line, says Brian Hodgson of Descartes Systems Group.
GM Plots Temp-Worker Push With Union Still Seething Over Doomed Plants
General Motors Co. wants to hire more temporary workers at U.S. plants and trim its health care costs, said people familiar with the automaker’s thinking. Its union — still steaming over the carmaker’s plans to close four U.S. factories — has little interest in obliging.
June 19, 2019UPS Seeks FMCSA Exemption From 2020 Driving Instructor Requirements
UPS Inc. has requested an exemption from a federal regulatory requirement that its driver training instructors have two years’ minimum experience as trainers and have held a commercial driver license for at least two years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced June 19.
Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman Gives Oxford University $189 Million for AI Studies
LONDON — American billionaire Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of the private equity firm Blackstone, has given Oxford University $188.6 million for a new institute that will study the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and computing technologies.
2019 Iowa Truck Driving Championships
Scenes from the Iowa Truck Driving Championships held June 13-14 in Altoona.
June 19, 2019Walmart Targets Automated ‘Middle-Mile’ Delivery to Cut Shipping Costs
Walmart Inc. came to dominate retailing through its mastery of logistics. But even the world’s biggest store doesn’t make money selling its wares online in the United States, largely due to runaway shipping costs. So the retailer is turning to robots.
Tesla Downplays Defense Company’s Hack Into Model 3 GPS System
An autonomous systems defense company contends it has successfully spoofed the GPS mechanism of a Tesla Model 3 using the automaker’s latest Autopilot technology, sending the vehicle off its intended route.
Amazon Adds Planes to Shipping Fleet to Speed Up Prime Deliveries
Amazon.com is adding 15 aircraft to its shipping fleet in an effort to speed up delivery to customers’ doors.
Arrive Logistics Raises $25 Million for Expansion
Freight brokerage company Arrive Logistics announced June 18 that it has raised an additional $25 million for expansion.