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.
Panel Says Platooning Is Near, Driverless Trucks Far Away
LAS VEGAS — Advancements in trucking technology are paving the way for the industry to experience two-vehicle platoons soon, but the driverless heavy-duty trucks idea remains a distant vision, according to executives from leading firms in both industries.
Kevin Burch Realizes Long-Burning Desire to Become Trucking’s Chief Storyteller
DAYTON, Ohio — For the past six months, a digital counter rested conspicuously on Kevin Burch’s desk, ticking off the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the president of truckload carrier Jet Express Inc. would officially take over as chairman of American Trucking Associations.
Otto Co-Founder Plans to Overhaul Industry, Beginning With Launch of Uber Freight
LAS VEGAS — A self-professed lover of robots, Anthony Levandowski has examined the trucking industry and found it wanting.
Economists See Slow Growth for United States, Trucking
LAS VEGAS — The low-growth U.S. economy remains in place and will probably continue plodding along as business leaders are hesitant to make the sort of investments that boost gross domestic product, in general, and truck freight volumes, specifically.
Pat Thomas Reflects on ATA’s Achievements of His Well-Traveled Year as Chairman
Pat Thomas, the immediate past chairman of American Trucking Associations, estimates he has racked up enough miles to circle the globe five times and has taken 3 million steps during his travels representing the trucking industry.
Natural Gas Remains Viable for Trucking, Advocates Say
LAS VEGAS — It’s the “second inning” of the natural gas industry’s involvement with the transportation industry, especially the heavy-duty truck sector, key advocates of the leading alternative fuel to diesel said.
Schneider Plans IPO
Privately held Schneider announced plans to do an initial public offering of its shares next year, becoming the last of the 10 largest North American trucking companies to take that approach to funding operations and expansion.
October 7, 2016N.J. Legislature Votes to Raise Fuel Taxes to Replenish Transportation Trust Fund
The long-running battle over New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund could be on the verge of ending. New Jersey’s Senate and Assembly voted on Oct. 7 to provide $2 billion annually to the transportation fund for the next eight years, thanks to tax increases of 27 cents per gallon on diesel and 23 cents per gallon on gasoline.
Nippon Yusen to Book $1.9 Billion One-Time Loss on Shipping Woes
Nippon Yusen KK, Japan’s largest shipping company by sales, will book a record one-time loss for its shipping and air-cargo divisions as freight rates remain depressed amid global overcapacity.
Pittsburgh Gets $10.9 Million Federal Transportation Grant
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Pittsburgh more than $10.9 million in grant funding.