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.
May Truck Sales Fall 19.5%
U.S. retail sales of Class 8 trucks in May dropped 19.5% as the downturn rolled on for a sixth consecutive month and still has not hit bottom, analysts said.
Opinion: The Truck Driver Shortage Is a Myth
Truck drivers, for the most part, don’t stay with one company for long. They go elsewhere quicker than they can be replaced.
June 20, 2016Editorial: Collision Technology Proves Its Worth
Let us pause for a moment and consider the number zero. As in, during a recent test, 150 heavy-duty tractors racked up 3 million U.S. highway miles and there were zero rear-end collisions.
June 20, 2016Collision Avoidance Systems Succeed in NHTSA Field Test
A yearlong federal field test of 150 Class 8 tractor-trailers equipped with collision avoidance systems had no rear-end crashes, a new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study revealed.
Manufacturers May Blend Braking Systems as Autonomous Technologies Gain Interest
The growth of technological systems used in autonomous vehicles in the United States, such as adaptive cruise control and self-steering, could speed the adoption of electronic braking system technology, which sends an electronic control signal to activate brakes.
Federal Officials, Union Seek Fix For Central States Pension Fund
Legislative and regulatory efforts to address financial troubles with union pension funds are continuing in the aftermath of the Central States Pension Fund’s unsuccessful effort to rescue its plan by slashing most retirees’ benefits by 50% or more.
Connected Vehicle Technologies a Priority For Next Highway Bill, Rep. Graves Says
Establishing programs that transportation officials and experts may use to devise strategies to reduce congestion through advanced technologies will need to be a part of the next long-term transportation bill, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) told stakeholders June 9.
Seasonal Jump in Produce Shipments Boosts Sluggish Truck Freight Market
A seasonal jump in June produce shipments has perked up a U.S. trucking market that has been dragged down by the country’s overall economic stagnation, industry officials believe.
Some Florida Truckers Threaten Strike
More than 2,000 truck drivers in Florida are threatening to go on a strike June 25 for possibly two weeks to protest work conditions, a spokesman for the group organizing the strike told Transport Topics.
Gearing Up for New Engine Oils
The heavy-duty engine oil specification that has been used for about 10 years is set to be replaced by two new ones: CK-4 and FA-4. The pair have been enhanced to withstand the rigors of lubricating hotter-running diesel engines and boost fuel efficiency better than the current offering, known as CJ-4 and marketed under many brands.