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.
Minnesota’s New Senator Prepares to Fight for Teamsters Pensions
Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith met with retired Teamsters on Jan. 6 to talk about a proposed solution to the problems facing their pensions.
Ford Offers F-150 Model With Diesel Engine
Ford Motor Co. announced a 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel will be available spring 2018 in its F-150 pickup truck.
January 8, 2018Navistar Expects Strong Year for Truck Manufacturer
Navistar executives predict 2018 will be a strong year for the Springfield, Ohio manufacturer. The company reported a profit of $30 million in 2017 — its first annual profit in six years — a result company officials called a breakthrough year for the truckmaker.
Can Bridges Handle Weight of Platooning Trucks? Engineering Firm Wants to Know
WASHINGTON — While truck-to-truck communication, driver training and safety have advanced the effort to hasten platooning to market, another critical aspect is looming and just may cause momentum to pull back some: the impact on infrastructure.
Value of NAFTA Freight Jumped in October, BTS Finds
The United States carried more freight by value with its North American Free Trade Agreement partners in October 2017 than in October 2016, according to a study released by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics Jan. 4.
Survey: Driver Shortage Explains Unseated Trucks
More than 90% of fleets had unseated trucks in the fourth quarter despite the capacity crunch the industry is facing, according to the Trends in Truckload Recruitment and Retention report, a nonscientific survey of recruiters at the fleet clients of Driver iQ.
Faster Page Loads Deliver Truckloads of New Drivers for U.S. Xpress
Traffic jams and speed limits may prevent truckers from driving any faster, but America’s largest independent truckload carrier has found a way to speed its internet connections with drivers across the country to help address its truck driver shortage.
January 5, 2018US Services Index Falls to Four-Month Low as Orders Moderate
America’s service industries expanded in December at the weakest pace in four months as orders cooled at companies that make up the bulk of the economy, a survey from the Institute for Supply Management showed Jan. 5.
Class 8 Orders Up 75% Year-Over-Year to 37,500
North American Class 8 orders in December rolled past 37,000 and improved 75% year-over-year, ACT Research Co. reported.
US Trade Deficit Balloons to Widest in Almost Six Years
The U.S. trade deficit in November reached the highest level in almost six years as an increase in imports exceeded a gain in shipments overseas, Commerce Department data showed Jan. 5.
January 5, 2018