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.
Wabash Readies for More Advanced Composite Technology
ATLANTA — Wabash National Corp., the nation’s top supplier of trailers, is renewing its trailer and truck body design using advanced composite panels to add strength, increase thermal efficiency and save weight, company executives said.
Industry Ready to Meet Demand for Last-Mile Delivery Option
ATLANTA — A combination of better equipment, increasing governmental pressure and improving economics is aligning to make a case that alternative-power options can make practical sense to meet the trucking industry’s growing last-mile delivery needs, experts said.
Mack Trucks Touts Over-the-Air Uptime
ATLANTA — Mack Trucks announced an expansion of its connected-vehicle services with the rollout of Mack Over The Air, which enables remote software updates for powertrain components and vehicle parameters for trucks equipped with its proprietary 2017 or newer engines.
February Class 8 Orders Add to the Surge
Orders for Class 8 vehicles kept accelerating in February, passing 40,000 for only the ninth time, analysts said.
Dyson Points to an Autonomous Future as Growth Continues
Dyson Ltd., best-known as a manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, hand driers and air filters, posted a surge in revenue driven by demand from Asia, and revealed a growing shift toward developing autonomous products.
Volvo Rolls Out Remote Programming for Over-the-Air Vehicle Software Updates
ATLANTA — Volvo Trucks said it has begun rolling out its Remote Programming feature for over-the-air vehicle software updates to help customers streamline maintenance and prevent vehicle downtime.
Walmart, U.S. Xpress Install Lytx Video Systems
Video telematics provider Lytx reported it signed a number of major clients last year, including Walmart Inc. and U.S. Xpress Enterprises, an indication of the growing acceptance by fleets of installing cameras on their trucks as a way to reduce accidents, increase road safety and track driver behavior.
Daimler Says Future Deals With Geely Hinge on China Partner BAIC
Daimler AG said future collaboration with its new largest shareholder Li Shufu will hinge on keeping the manufacturer’s existing Chinese partner on board.
Peterson Launches Intelligent Trailer System
ATLANTA — Peterson Manufacturing Co. introduced an intelligent trailer system that the company said brings expanded connectivity and telematics capability to trailers.
Humans Slapped and Shouted at Robot Cars in Two of Six California DMV Crash Reports This Year
The human response to possible takeover by robot overlords is off to a troubling start. Of six crash reports involving robot cars filed in California so far this year, two involved a human approaching the car and attacking it.