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.
Tesla Year-End Push May Drive Cash Flow Higher, Expert Says
Tesla Inc.’s extraordinary efforts to deliver Model 3s before the end of the year could drive a substantially higher cash flow in the fourth quarter, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said.
Resurgent Oil Fields Keep Drivers in Short Supply
These are boom times in West Texas. Across the state, the robust shale industry is providing a lift to local economies and trucking companies that serve the region. It’s also a microcosm for the trucking industry overall when it comes to finding drivers to keep the wheels of growth turning.
Frozen Road Rules Start to Take Hold, Allowing for Heavier Truckloads
Roads in certain portions of Midwestern states can accommodate heavier truckloads as seasonal weight increases gradually take effect.
Amazon Air Announces Significant Expansion in Major Markets
The air transport division of online retailer Amazon is expanding its capacity at a regional airport near Chicago that markets itself as an alternative to the city’s O’Hare International Airport, the nation’s sixth busiest cargo facility.
Truck Tonnage Posts 0.4% November Gain, ATA Index Shows
American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased to 118.9 in November from 118.4 in October, a 0.4% gain.
Class 8 Sales Boost Navistar Profit in ‘Breakout’ Year
Navistar International Corp. reported growth in net income, with a 39.2% increase in profit for its fiscal fourth quarter. The Lisle-Ill.-based original equipment manufacturer said 2018 was a strong year for the trucking industry and a “breakout year” for the company.
Barbara Leslie Returns to Port of Oakland as Commissioner
OAKLAND, Calif. — Barbara Leslie, CEO of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, has joined the Port of Oakland’s governing Board of Port Commissioners, according to a Dec. 13 press release. Leslie worked at the port in 1998 and 1999.
December 18, 2018FMCSA Receives Three HOS Exemption Requests
Several industry groups are petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for exemptions from certain hours-of-service rules.
Opinion: Picking a Path for Autonomous Data
Artificial intelligence and automation could someday disrupt major sectors of the global economy, including trucking. While much is said about how automated operation could help mitigate the driver shortage, many developmental challenges remain before wide deployment of Class 8 trucks can be realized.
Holiday Business Booming for DHL at Houston Hub
DHL, which specializes in international shipments, anticipates that it will make 156,000 delivery stops every day during December, a 56% increase over a typical month. With a distribution hub at each of Houston’s two major airports, it expects to handle 17% more package deliveries than last year.