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.
Truckload Driver Pay Inches Up in 4th Quarter
Salaries for truckload drivers rose at the low rate of 0.04 point in the fourth quarter year-over-year, according to the latest National Transportation Institute index (or 0.03% on a preliminary basis), the slowest in 2016.
Panelists Push for Better Crash Data, Technology at Truck Safety Hearing
Improving truck crash data and monitoring of high-risk carriers are among the key factors that will lead to improved heavy truck safety, a panel of trucking experts told a Senate Commerce subcommittee last week.
Cummins Retains Top Spot in Class 8 Engine Market
A second-half slowdown in truck sales for Daimler Trucks’ two North American brands carried Cummins Inc. to its leadership in North American Class 8 truck engines for all of 2016, according to figures from WardsAuto.com.
Feb. Turn Times Rise at SoCal Ports Despite a Drop in Container Traffic
The total time it took a truck to enter and exit the two largest ports in North America rose a few minutes in February on a sequential basis, despite a double- digit percentage drop in container traffic in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, due to the earlier Chinese New Year.
BYD to Deliver Electric Trucks to Southern California Facilities
Electric vehicle maker BYD Motors Inc. will deliver 27 battery- electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks to freight facilities in smog-ridden Southern California in a deal that is supported by state grants but is meant to prompt much broader commercialization, BYD said.
Reining in Rising Maintenance Costs
Fleet managers are relying more on high-tech shop equipment, technology-savvy technicians, efficient shop practices and flexible preventive maintenance scheduling in efforts to rein in the rising maintenance costs inherent with the complexity of today's trucks.
Trailer Standards Draw Near
Trailers purchased by fleets in 2018 must comply with Phase 2 of the greenhouse-gas rule from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but there will be a menu of equipment options for achieving compliance.
Truck Engines Incorporate Advanced Engineering to Meet Phase 1 Greenhouse-Gas Standards
The diesel engines built this year are more efficient as the second step of greenhouse-gas Phase 1 standards takes effect. These power plants also offer improved reliability, advanced engineering, reduced maintenance and performance improvements that fleet managers and truck drivers will notice, industry experts said.
FedEx Expands Footprint at Memphis International Airport
Memphis International Airport officials agreed March 16 to lease more land to super-tenant FedEx Corp.
Consumer Sentiment Rises as Household Finances Improve
Consumer confidence rose in March as Americans were more satisfied than any time in 16 years with the current state of their finances and the economy, while remaining sharply divided along party lines about the outlook.