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.
Housing Starts Sank 5.3% in September
WASHINGTON — U.S. home construction fell 5.3% in September, a sign that recent hurricanes and rising mortgage rates may be weighing on the market.
Volvo: ‘Not Clear’ How Many North American Vehicles Are Affected by Component Issue
Volvo Group said it could not yet determine the impact of a faulty component on its North American trucks as it was still evaluating the scope of the problem.
Trump Plans Exit From Postal Treaty as Measure Against China
President Donald Trump plans to withdraw the United States from a 192-nation treaty that gives Chinese companies discounted shipping rates for small packages sent to American consumers, another escalation of his economic confrontation of Beijing.
Stakeholder Comments to FMCSA Favor HOS Flexibility
A sample of last-minute written comments by trucking-related trade organizations mostly were supportive of tweaking federal hours-of-service rules to make them more flexible for commercial vehicle drivers.
Managing Risk in Trucking
As the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration considers revamping its Compliance, Safety, Accountability scoring system, how are fleets managing their risk exposure and their insurance costs? Our Oct. 17 LiveOnWeb program tackles that issue.
October 17, 2018Colorado Voters Could Play Role in Determining State’s Oil Output
On Nov. 6, voters may spoil BP’s welcome. That’s when it will be decided whether to limit drilling in an initiative that some say could cut the state’s oil output by more than half. The vote is being closely watched, not only by companies keen to join the Colorado boom but also by outsiders who see a potential blueprint for blocking development.
October 17, 2018September Trailer Orders Shatter Record, ACT Research Reports
U.S. trailer orders in September skyrocketed to an all-time high, surpassing the previous record by more than 10,000 units, ACT Research Co. reported.
October 17, 2018Like Motor Carriers, Truck Insurers Await Changes to Federal CSA Program
With potentially big changes coming to the federal Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, insurance companies are hoping for a better way to identify unsafe motor carriers in an environment where insurers may be paying out much higher claims under the current system while some carriers are battling skyrocketing premiums.
Employers Post Record Number of Open Jobs in August
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers posted the most jobs in two decades in August, and hiring also reached a record high, fresh evidence that companies are desperate to staff up amid solid economic growth.
Fleet Expansion Generates Record Profits at P.A.M. Transportation Services in 3Q
Higher rates and a bigger fleet in a strong freight market produced record profits for P.A.M. Transportation Services in the third quarter.