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.
Retail Growth, Consumer Expectations Add to Supply Chain Demands
LONG BEACH, Calif.—The retail industry is in the middle of an enormous transformation, growing at a pace that exceeds the gross domestic product and adding about 70,000 jobs this year. Brick-and-mortar retailers as well as e-commerce providers are working to expand their offerings, which will place new demands on the supply chain.
NAFTA Deal Unlikely This Week, Raising Tariff Fears
NAFTA talks are picking up again, but a deal is unlikely to be reached this week, four people familiar with discussions said — increasing the odds the latest deadline will be missed amid President Donald Trump’s threat to freeze Canada out.
Tesla Criminal Probe Into Musk Tweet Seen as Opening Pandora’s Box
All it took to draw the U.S. Justice Department into investigating Tesla Inc. was a single tweet by Chairman Elon Musk. But now that prosecutors have a toehold, they can dig in to look for other signs of misconduct at the electric car maker.
ZF Pushes Ahead With Vehicle Electrification, Autonomy
Commercial vehicle supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG announced it would spend 12 billion euros over the next five years on its e-mobility and autonomous driving technologies aimed at a logistics industry in need of new vehicles to deal with rising delivery volumes and clean air issues.
Arizona DOT Sells Land to Fund I-10 Widening
The Arizona Department of Transportation recently completed the largest sale of excess property in the agency’s history to help fund an interstate widening project.
August Housing Construction Up 9.2%, But Permits Slide
WASHINGTON — U.S. home construction rebounded in August at the fastest pace in seven months, but applications for new building permits plunged, sending mixed signals for an industry that has been struggling with rising lumber costs.
California Logistics Firm to Pay $3.5 Million in Back Wages, Benefits
The U.S. Department of Labor said logistics firm California Cartage Co. will pay $3.5 million to nearly 1,500 warehouse workers, after investigators found the Long Beach company failed to pay wages and benefits required under federal law.
AAR Announces Ian Jefferies to Succeed Current President, CEO Edward Hamberger
The Association of American Railroads has announced that a new president will take the reins at the start of next year.
Senate’s Turn to Vote on Water Infrastructure Package
The U.S. Senate is expected to take up as early as this month House-passed legislation that would authorize projects designed to improve infrastructure at ports, harbors and waterways, as well as boost flood protection programs.
FedEx Freight’s Phillip Pinter Captures TMC SuperTech Grand Champion Honors
ORLANDO, Fla. — FedEx Freight technician Phillip Pinter earned the title of 2018 TMC SuperTech Grand Champion during the fall meeting here of American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council.