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.
FMCSA’s Ray Martinez Urges Carriers to Convert AOBRDs to ELDs
DALLAS — Ray Martinez, the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, urged carriers to complete the trucking industry’s transition to electronic logging devices and expressed optimism about the potential to add flexibility to driver hours-of-service rules.
Transport Topics Launches Daily Briefings on Smart Speaker Platforms
Transport Topics now offers a daily news briefing available each weekday morning via smart speaker devices, such as Amazon Echo and Google Home.
February 28, 2019House Transportation Leader DeFazio Offers Infrastructure Legislation Roadmap
Speaking to reporters at a conference hosted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials on Feb. 27, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) explained that his committee would most likely tackle infrastructure policy via two paths.
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Addresses Autonomous Tech, Infrastructure at AASHTO Briefing
WASHINGTON — Widespread adoption of autonomous vehicle technologies depends largely on public trust, according to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Autonomous technology can take a variety of forms in transportation, from lane-departure warning systems and automated brakes to truck platooning. Automated technologies have, however, raised public concern over security and privacy.
Freight Forwarder Flexport Receives $1 Billion Investment From SoftBank
SoftBank Vision Fund, along with several partners, has invested $1 billion in Flexport Inc., a full-service air and ocean freight forwarder, according to Flexport’s blog.
February 27, 2019Driver Retention Boosted by Recognition, Opportunity, Experts Say
SAN DIEGO — Creative methods for recruiting new hires and recognizing existing drivers’ efforts can help commercial fleets keep their vehicles’ seats filled, experts said here during the Lytx User Group Conference.
NTSB Takes Lead Investigating Crash of Amazon Air Cargo Plane
A widebody cargo plane hauling packages for Amazon with three people aboard abruptly plunged out of the sky and slammed into a bay Feb. 23 as it was preparing to land in Houston.
Oil Imports at 23-Year-Low, Output Hits Another Record
The United States imported the least amount of crude oil on a weekly basis in 23 years, as OPEC-members Saudi Arabia and Venezuela cut their shipments to unusually low levels.
Walmart Expands Private Fleet Delivery, Adds New Intermodal Service
Walmart has begun expanding the scope and capabilities of its private fleet, taking over store distribution from dedicated contract carriers at facilities in Maine, Indiana and Ohio, while also adding a new intermodal service using a proprietary container design and company drivers to provide drayage service.
Hyundai Plans $40 Billion in Spending Over Next Five Years
Hyundai Motor Co. joined automakers pledging massive spending in the years ahead to address the industry’s transformation and fend off new competition from the likes of Tesla Inc.