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.
Autonomous Trucking Still Distant
ATLANTA — The future of autonomous trucks is further down the road than people believe, but final-mile delivery by robots is closer to larger use, said Steve Banker of ARC Advisory Group, giving his assessment of future disruption at the SMC3 Jump Start conference.
Georgia Ports Shrug Off Trade Worries, Post Record Year
Georgia’s seaports shook off fears of global trade tensions and the early days of the partial government shutdown to post another record year of freight traffic in calendar year 2018, a sign the economy remains sound despite recent turmoil.
Fleets Prepare Drivers for Extreme Cold
Trucking groups prepared their drivers with tips on operations and safety as a polar vortex gripped the Midwest, delivering extremely cold temperatures and harsh wind chills.
Tolls, Regulations, Bunker Fuel Costs Could Vex Industry
ATLANTA — Incoming fuel regulations and political gridlock will bring unwelcome expenses and headaches to shipping and trucking companies through next year, according to one policy expert who spoke at SMC3 Jump Start 2019 on Jan. 29.
Houston Trucking, Shipping Companies Decry Proposal to Limit Biggest Vessels
Representatives for container shipping companies and trucking companies pushed back against a proposal to restrict the number of 1,100-foot-plus container vessels that call on Houston, saying this would hurt the entire shipping and logistics supply chain.
Meritor Boosts First-Quarter Revenue, Net Income
Commercial vehicle supplier Meritor Inc. reported increased revenue and net income in its fiscal first quarter as well as new significant contracts with leading trailer makers.
Peterbilt Standardizes Jost Air Slide Fifth Wheel
Peterbilt has named the Jost JSK37 12-inch inboard air slide fifth wheel as standard on its Model 579 Class 8 truck, according to a Jan. 22 press release from Jost. The standardization became effective Jan. 1.
January 30, 2019Able Moving & Storage Acquires My Truck Buddy Assets
Able Moving & Storage has acquired assets of My Truck Buddy in a transaction between Virginia moving companies.
January 30, 2019Job Market Off to Healthy Start in January
Companies added more workers than forecast to U.S. payrolls in January, signaling a healthy start to the year for the job market despite the partial government shutdown.
January 30, 2019ELD Era Brings Fleets, Shippers Toward More Collaboration, Experts Say
The advent of ELDs is influencing how carriers and shippers work together to control costs, deploy capacity, design networks, offer and charge for services, make capital investments, recruit and assign drivers and leverage new technology.