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.
Trump Makes It Clear as He Heads to Davos: America First, Period
On the eve of his trip to Switzerland to meet with world leaders and promote his “America First” agenda, President Donald Trump signed an order slapping tariffs on solar panel and washing machine imports.
Drug Clearinghouse Rule Fails to Give State Agencies Proper Authority
A glitch in the federal drug and alcohol clearinghouse final rule requires state licensing agencies to check the database for drivers who have flunked their drug tests, but fails to give state agencies the regulatory authority to take action by downgrading or declining to issue a commercial driver license to those drivers.
2017 Truck Crossings Into Canada Dip, Bridge and Tunnel Association Finds
Truck crossings between the states of Michigan and New York and the province of Ontario were fairly steady last year, declining just .42% versus 2016 levels, according to a report from the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association.
Port of Baltimore to Add New Shipping Service to New Zealand, Australia
A new monthly roll-on/roll-off shipping service between Europe and New Zealand and Australia will begin calling the port of Baltimore in March, officials announced Jan. 23.
Existing-Home Sales Decline as Supply Drops to Record Low
Sales of previously-owned U.S. homes fell in December for the first time in four months, as the market struggles with record-low supply and rising prices, figures from the National Association of Realtors showed Jan. 24
Strong 4Q Helps Norfolk Southern Finish Year With a Flourish
Norfolk Southern Corp. released on Jan. 24 results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2017, beating analyst expectations and growing its intermodal revenues by 14% in the quarter.
Ocean Freight Industry Stabilized in 2017, Freightos Says
The ocean freight industry stabilized in 2017, with rates remaining relatively steady after the turmoil of 2016 from the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping Co., according to a report from online freight marketplace Freightos.
Americans Warming to Self-Driving Vehicles, Survey Finds
U.S. drivers are still cautious — but they’re getting used to the idea of self-driving cars.
2018: Atlanta’s ‘Spaghetti Junction’ Tops ATRI’s Freight Bottlenecks List Again
For the third successive year, Atlanta’s five-level stack interchange known as “Spaghetti Junction,” where Interstates 285 and I-85 north intersect, is again the most congested freight bottleneck in the nation, according to new research conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute.
Infrastructure Plan Reaction From Trucking Industry
TT's Eugene Mulero talks with colleague Burney Simpson about trucking industry concerns being raised about a tolling plan and other features that the White House appears to be considering in its $1 trillion infrastructure proposal. (Joseph Terry/Transport Topics)
January 23, 2018