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.
Safety Advocates Say Not So Fast on Driverless Cars
Highway safety advocates are urging lawmakers to pump the brakes on the development of driverless cars.
Aptiv, Lyft to Continue Vegas Self-Driving Car Tests, Expand to Second City
Aptiv left a piece of Pittsburgh in Las Vegas when it tore down its booth last week at the largest electronics show in Las Vegas.
Snow Causes FedEx Hiccup
Memphis International Airport saw little impact on passenger flights from a winter storm early Jan. 16, but FedEx’s cargo operation experienced disruptions that could affect deliveries.
Two Canadian Deals Highlight Continued Consolidation in Trucking
A consolidation trend among Canadian trucking companies continues, with Manitoulin Transport completing its purchase of intermodal carrier Direct Right Cartage, and Groupe Robert announcing plans to combine its heavy-haul business with QSL Group and Express Mondor.
January 17, 2018FedEx Beefs Up Unit Led by Founder’s Son to Include Specialty Logistics, E-Commerce
FedEx is expanding the business unit led by its founder’s son by consolidating specialty logistics and e-commerce solutions within FedEx Trade Networks.
Amazon Begins to Act as Its Own Freight Broker
Over the past two years Amazon.com Inc. has dabbled in the transportation and logistics industry. But recently, the e-commerce behemoth began to directly broker freight to truck drivers, rather than solely rely upon third-party firms such as C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Transport Topics has learned.
Manufacturing Output Rose in December for a Fourth Month
U.S. factory production rose for a fourth straight month in December, capping the strongest quarter since 2010 and underscoring a resurgence in manufacturing that’s primed for further advances, Federal Reserve data showed Jan. 17.
Diesel Hits Three-Year High, Rises 3.2¢ to $3.028 a Gallon
The U.S. average retail price of diesel rose 3.2 cents to $3.028, its highest price in three years.
Minority Fellow Studies Truck Air Quality
The Transportation Research Board this year named 21 students from 14 schools its TRB Minority Student Fellows as part of its work promoting minority participation in transportation. The 9-year-old program provides funding for students from select historically black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions to attend TRB’s annual meeting and present their research papers.
January 16, 2018Ports of Virginia, Oakland Set Records in 2017
The Port of Virginia and the Port of Oakland, Calif., set records for annual container traffic in 2017, according to two announcements.
January 16, 2018