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.
Waymo, Uber Trade Barbs in Court Over Trade-Secret Theft Suit
Waymo and Uber lawyers squared off in a federal court on Feb. 5 on the first day of a bombshell trade-secret theft case.
Embark Self-Driving Truck Completes Coast-to-Coast Test Run
A self-driving truck operated by tech startup Embark recently completed a test run from Los Angeles to Jacksonville, Fla., which the company hailed as the first coast-to-coast journey by an automated truck.
Survey: US Manufacturers Say Autonomous Trucks Could Cut Costs
Manufacturers could save nearly 30% of their total transportation costs through 2040 if autonomous, longhaul trucking is aggressively adopted, according to an analysis of a new survey of U.S. manufacturers by PwC and the Manufacturing Institute.
February 6, 2018Prosecutor: Former Pilot Flying J President Approved of and Planned to Expand Fraud Scheme
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Former Pilot Flying J President Mark Hazelwood didn’t merely know his sales division was “infected” with a greedy plot to deceive and defraud trucking companies. He promoted the chief architect of the plot and made plans to grow the scheme, a federal prosecutor told jurors Feb. 5.
Trade Deficit Is Wider Than Any Month or Year Since 2008
The U.S. trade deficit widened to the biggest monthly and annual levels since the last recession, underscoring the inherent friction in President Donald Trump’s goal of narrowing the gap while enjoying faster economic growth.
February 6, 2018Amtrak Crash Adds to CSX’s Rising Accident Toll
A fatal crash of Amtrak and CSX Inc. trains Feb. 4 raises concerns about whether the freight railroad’s massive operations overhaul might have compromised safety and contributed to a rise in accidents.
Intermodal Freight Volume Accelerates, Raises Capacity Concerns for 2018
Intermodal freight volume grew a solid 5.8% in the fourth quarter and set a record of 9 million international intermodal loadings for the year, according to the Intermodal Association of North America.
February 5, 2018US Stocks Sink Most Since 2011 as Rout Deepens
U.S. stocks plunged the most in 6 1/2 years Feb. 5, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average sinking more than 1,100 points, as the equity selloff reached a fever pitch amid rising concern that inflation will force interest rates higher.
Diesel Rises 1.6¢ to $3.086 a Gallon
The U.S. average retail price of diesel rose 1.6 cents to $3.086 as oil slipped and continued to slide below $64 a barrel. It marked the fourth consecutive week of average diesel prices above $3.
BNSF Joins Group Aiming to Use Blockchain in Freight
BNSF Railway, which is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said Feb. 5 that it has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance, a group of more than 200 freight and logistics companies that are exploring how to use the digital-ledger technology in their industry.
February 5, 2018