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.
Trimble Acquires Rail Technology Firm
Trimble, the parent of several major suppliers of technology to the North American trucking industry, has acquired a rail technology firm. Terms were not disclosed.
December 2, 2014Ruan Promotes McLean to CEO
Ruan Transportation Management Systems has promoted Ben McLean to CEO from chief operating officer, succeeding Steve Chapman.
December 2, 2014Construction Spending Rises 1.1%
Construction spending rose 1.1% in October, the Commerce Department reported Dec. 2.
December 2, 2014Diesel Falls 2.3¢ After Plunge in Crude Oil Prices
Diesel’s national average pump price declined 2.3 cents to $3.605 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported Dec. 1, after last week’s plunge in oil prices to a five-year low.
C.H. Robinson to Buy Freightquote for $365 Million
C.H. Robinson Worldwide has agreed to purchase brokerage Freightquote.com for $365 million in cash to expand its market presence.
December 1, 2014Crete, Shaffer Announce Driver Pay Increases
Crete Carrier Corp. and Shaffer Trucking have become the latest fleets to raise driver pay in response to growing demand.
December 1, 2014Canada Extends Order on Rail Shipment to Alleviate Grain Backlog
Canada extended an order that requires the country’s two largest railways to ship a minimum amount of grain each week until March 28.
December 1, 2014FedEx Wins Latest Round in Teamsters Challenge
FedEx Freight won the latest round in union representation battles with the Teamsters, with the rejection of the union at the carrier’s Louisville, Kentucky, terminal.
December 1, 2014Manufacturing Grows in November
Manufacturing in the U.S. expanded in November at a faster pace than projected, signaling the world’s largest economy is rising above a global slowdown.
December 1, 2014Black Friday Fizzles With Consumers as Sales Tumble 11%
Even after doling out discounts on electronics and clothes, retailers struggled to entice shoppers to Black Friday sales events, putting pressure on the industry as it heads into the final weeks of the holiday season.
December 1, 2014