Business

About Business News...

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.

Government, Business, Technology

Micron Clinches Up to $13.6 Billion in US Grants, Loans

The U.S. plans to award Micron Technology Inc. $6.1 billion in grants and as much as $7.5 billion in loans to help the memory-chip maker build new American factories.

April 25, 2024
Business, Technology, Equipment

Hertz Reports $392 Million Loss

Hertz reported a loss that was nearly three times worse than analysts expected as it accelerated sales of electric vehicles to reduce its fleet of Tesla models that have weighed on profits.

David Welch | Bloomberg News
April 25, 2024
Government, Business, Technology, Logistics, Global Freight

Amazon Web Services to Build Data Center in Northern Indiana

NEW CARLISLE, Ind. — Amazon Web Services plans to invest $11 billion to build a data center in northern Indiana that will create at least 1,000 new jobs, state and company officials announced.

April 25, 2024
Business, Equipment

Caterpillar Volumes Slip From Year-Ago Levels

Caterpillar Inc. reported first-quarter results that showed machinery sales slipping from a year earlier and warned that the trend is expected to continue in its second quarter.

Guillermo Molero | Bloomberg News
April 25, 2024
Business, Logistics, Global Freight

Union Pacific’s First-Quarter Profit Creeps Up 1%

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific’s first-quarter profit crept 1% higher as the railroad tightened up on expenses — particularly its fuel bill — even though it delivered slightly less freight.

Josh Funk | Associated Press
April 25, 2024
Government, Business

Economic Growth Slowed Sharply Last Quarter to 1.6% Pace

WASHINGTON — The nation’s economy slowed last quarter, growing at an annual rate of 1.6% in a sign that the high interest rates may be taking a toll on borrowing and spending.

Paul Wiseman | Associated Press
April 25, 2024
Business

Ford Beats Sales Estimates on Strong Demand for Work Trucks

Ford Motor Co., rapidly retooling its electric vehicle strategy in a decelerating market for plug-ins, posted first-quarter results that beat expectations on strong sales of work trucks.

Keith Naughton | Bloomberg News
April 24, 2024
Business, Logistics, Breaking News

Tonnage Numbers Hit 13th Month of Declines

Truck tonnage reached 13 consecutive months of year-over-year declines after a slight decrease in March, American Trucking Associations reported April 23.

Connor D. Wolf | Staff Reporter
April 24, 2024
Business, Equipment

Softer Global Truck Tire Demand Drags on Michelin Q1 Sales

Michelin posted a 4.1% year-over-year decrease in tire sales in the first quarter of 2024, citing softer overall demand in the truck and specialty tire segments.

Keiron Greenhalgh | Staff Reporter
April 24, 2024
Business, Technology, Fuel, Autonomous

As Q1 Profit Falls 55%, Tesla to Focus on Cheaper Vehicles

Tesla’s first-quarter net income plummeted 55%, but its stock price surged in after-hours trading April 23 as the company said it would accelerate production of more affordable vehicles.

Tom Krisher and David Hamilton | Associated Press
April 24, 2024