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.
Opinion: The Benefits of Fleets Going Paperless
Of the millions of fleet vehicles on the roads every day, only a small percentage of them are managed by paperless operations.
September 21, 2015Editorial: Celebrating Our Truck Drivers
It was a good time to be a truck driver last week. As we report in this edition, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week offered industry stakeholders and the public a chance to honor the men and women who quietly and diligently deliver the nation’s freight every day.
September 21, 2015Growth of Intermodal Freight Transportation Sparks Debut of TT’s Top 50 Global Carriers
Intermodal freight is growing in volume and importance as shippers embrace the idea of using multiple modes of transport to move goods around the world.
XPO Logistics Bid for Con-way Could Shake Up LTL Sector
XPO Logistics’ dramatic bid to snatch up trucking capacity by acquiring Con-way Inc. for $3 billion could spawn similar acquisitions by non-asset-based companies, forcing rival less-than-truckload carriers to reassess their strategy and step up their game, LTL leaders said.
TMW’s Wangler Calls for More Emphasis on Technical Skills in Modern Education
David Wangler, president of transportation management software provider TMW Systems, called last week for more emphasis on technical skills in education and praised the skills of truck drivers, even as self-driving trucks are being developed.
September 21, 2015Freightliner Road Tests ‘Inspiration’ to Demonstrate Autonomous Assistance
LAS VEGAS — Freightliner Trucks road-tested its autonomous Inspiration truck for a second time here Sept. 15, demonstrating its ease of use and what the technology can do to improve highway safety, particularly as an aid for drivers.
FedEx’s Profit Rises 6% in Fiscal 1Q, Aided by Stronger Results at Express
FedEx Corp. said net income for the fiscal first quarter ended Aug. 31 rose 6% to $692 million, or $2.42 per share, helped by stronger results at the Express unit.
Truck Sales Top 20,000 for 6th Month, Stay Ahead of Last Year’s Pace by 22%
Buoyed by a steady economy, U.S. Class 8 retail sales rose 12.1% in August from a year earlier, passing the 20,000 mark for the sixth month in a row, WardsAuto.com reported.
GE to Sell Finance Unit to Canada-Based BMO
General Electric has agreed to sell its Transportation Finance unit, North America’s largest lender to the commercial truck and trailer markets, to Toronto-based BMO Financial Group.
For Hire on eBay: Trucker Driven by Passion for Service
The driver shortage issue may be a thorn to the trucking industry, but it puts drivers in a bit of a power position to make their services available to the highest bidder. One particular driver is doing that literally, advertising himself on the online auction site, eBay.