Business

About Business News...

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.

Business, Autonomous

Western Star Debuts Transforming Truck

MOUNTVILLE, S.C. — Western Star has launched an off-road truck capable of swapping truck bodies within minutes, enabling operators to use the same chassis for multiple applications.

Seth Clevenger | Managing Editor, Features and Multimedia
May 23, 2016
Business, Technology, Autonomous

Kenworth Boosts Automation at Manufacturing Facility

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Gridiron rises on the roof of Kenworth Truck Co.’s assembly plant here as a new structure takes shape to automate the storage and retrieval of painted truck cabs, sleepers and hoods awaiting trim, while down below the company continues building trucks — but at a reduced rate since last year.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
May 23, 2016
Business, Safety, Government

Experts: New Technology Can Reduce Congestion

WASHINGTON — Investing in the integration of advanced technologies in cities and freight corridors would help reduce roadway congestion, transportation officials and experts said here during Infrastructure Week.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
May 23, 2016
Business, Equipment, Safety

FedEx Founder Smith Predicts Twin 33s Will Ultimately Win Federal Approval

WASHINGTON — Fred Smith, founder and chairman of FedEx Corp., said he believes nationwide use of 33-foot twin trailers can gain approval during the next presidential administration.

Neil Abt and Eric Miller | Staff Reporters
May 23, 2016
Business

Overtime Rule Could Affect Operations, ATA Says

The Obama administration’s new rule to guarantee that several million workers be eligible for overtime pay could affect dispatchers and operations personnel at trucking companies, industry officials said.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
May 23, 2016
Safety, Business, Technology

Video: Siphiwe Baleka Demos the 'Knee-Crusher' Workout Any Trucker Can Do

No time to exercise? It's not how much time you work out, it's how hard you work out, says driver trainer Siphiwe Baleka of Prime Inc. in this LiveOnWeb Extra.

May 20, 2016
Business, Technology

Video: Ralph Garcia Demos Trucker Exercise Routine

Troubled by back pain behind the wheel? Professional driver Ralph Garcia demonstrates for TT's Neil Abt how stretching ahead of time can alleviate that problem, and walks through the exercise routine he conducts in this LiveOnWeb Extra.

May 20, 2016
Business

Daimler Cuts Sales Forecast as Class 8 Orders Stall

Daimler Trucks said it lowered its outlook for overall North American truck sales for Classes 6-8 in 2016 as orders for Class 8 trucks especially have not revived. It now forecasts sales will be off about 15% compared with 2015, down from its previous forecast of a 10% decline.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
May 20, 2016
Government, Safety, Business, Technology

Video: Why FMCSA Is Seeking Input on Sleep Apnea

Christine Hydock, chief of the medical programs division for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, talks with TT's Eric Miller in this LiveOnWeb video excerpt about the agency's interest in a possible sleep apnea regulation.

May 20, 2016
Government, Business

House Appropriators to Consider Transportation Funding Bill May 24

House appropriators on May 24 will take up a fiscal 2017 transportation funding bill that includes provisions related to truckers’ hours-of-service rules.

May 20, 2016