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.
Jobs Top Forecast at 263,000 Gain, but Wages Miss Estimates
The U.S. economy accelerated its rebound from a recent soft patch as unemployment unexpectedly fell to a fresh 49-year low amid strong hiring and cooler-than-projected wage gains, suggesting the hot labor market can extend its run.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Correctly Called European Slump for April
Tesla Inc.’s deliveries in key European markets slumped in April after booming the previous month, lending credence to CEO Elon Musk’s prediction for “lumpy” results.
Class 8 Orders in April Slow Down Again
North American Class 8 orders in April fell below 20,000 units for the fourth consecutive month, FTR reported.
May 3, 2019Falcon Transport Faces Employee Lawsuit After Closure
A Youngstown, Ohio-based trucking company laid off about 550 employees on April 27, only a year and a half after being purchased by a Los Angeles investment firm, and is now facing an employee lawsuit.
UPS, Teamsters Finalize New Five-Year Labor Contract
UPS Inc. and an estimated 255,000 members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are now working under a new five-year agreement that brings labor stability to the Atlanta-based shipping giant. The contract took effect on April 29 after workers in Michigan ratified the last outstanding supplemental agreement.
J.B. Hunt Adds First Enterprise Sales Office in Mexico
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced subsidiary J.B. Hunt Mexico opened an “enterprise sales branch” in Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico, the first such office in the country for the company.
May 3, 2019Minnesota Senate Strikes Proposed Fuel Tax Hike
A proposed 20-cent hike to the fuel tax did not survive the scrutiny of the Minnesota Senate, which passed a transportation finance bill May 1.
Schneider Reports Lower 1Q Income, Higher Revenue
Schneider National Inc. reported lower first-quarter net income and slightly higher revenue as its truckload unit faltered.
Intermodal Shipments Fall, but International Volumes Increase
First-quarter total intermodal volumes fell 1.5% year-over-year after posting strong growth in 2018, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report.
May 2, 2019Dana Posts Record Sales in First Quarter, but Net Income Dips
Dana Inc. reported record first-quarter sales for 2019, seeing a 5% increase to $2.16 billion, compared with $2.14 billion in the year-ago period, according to a company news release.