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.
American Tire Files for Bankruptcy to Cut Debt by $1.1 Billion
American Tire Distributors Inc., buffeted by the defection of two big manufacturers, is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware after reaching a deal with most of its bondholders to reduce its debt by about $1.1 billion.
Attorneys Battle Over Motor Carrier Arbitration Rights in Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — Attorneys for Prime Inc. and truck driver Dominic Oliveira argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 3 the merits of a lawsuit that could deprive fleets and owner-operators alike of their right to resolve disputes through arbitration.
McLeod Expands Digital Freight-Matching Software
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — McLeod Software is expanding its digital freight-matching capabilities to help freight brokers and carriers move loads in a more efficient and increasingly automated fashion.
Platooning Tries to Move Past a Work in Progress
The head of Daimler Trucks has questioned, but not completely written off, the business case for heavy-duty truck platooning in light of other emerging technologies and fuel gains from new combination vehicles operating independently.
Nine Railroads May Not Qualify for PTC Deadline Extension, FRA Says
WASHINGTON — Nine railroads have demonstrated little progress with installing an automatic braking system, jeopardizing their chances to qualify for a Dec. 31 deadline extension to implement the system, the country’s top railroad regulator told a Senate panel Oct. 3.
FMCSA Seeks Public Comments on Meal, Rest Break ATA Petition
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that it is accepting public comment on a petition American Trucking Associations recently filed on California’s meal-and-rest-break rules.
New AI Tools Emerge For Social Media Marketing
New and promising artificial intelligence tools are beginning to emerge for trucking companies that market on social media and that are looking for a gem-like polish on their text as well as optimization of their campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other platforms.
Driver Turnover Rises 4% at Large Truckload Fleets, ATA Reports
The annualized rate of driver turnover at large truckload fleets in the second quarter jumped 4 percentage points year-over-year to 98%, according to American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Activity Report.
Truck Orders Reach Peak Levels, Analysts Say
The aggressive demand for new Class 8 trucks rolled on in September, contributing to record order strength over the past three months, ACT Research Co. reported.
FMCSA to Host Oct. 10 Listening Session on Potential HOS Rule Changes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will host another public listening session to discuss potential changes to its hours-of-service rules for commercial motor vehicle operators.
October 3, 2018