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.
Retail Sales Rise 0.1% in April, Following Largest Gain in Four Years
Retail sales increased 0.1% in April after the biggest increase in four years, the Commerce Department reported May 13.
May 13, 2014Foxx Calls on Congress to Boost Highway Trust Fund
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx ramped up his call May 13 for congressional leaders to fund infrastructure projects around the country by shoring up a federal highway account that is expected to be insolvent in August.
Rose Resigns as Expeditors’ Chairman
Expeditors International of Washington said former CEO Peter Rose, has resigned as the chairman and from the company’s board.
May 13, 2014Business Inventories Rise in March
Business inventories rose 0.4% in March, and sales increased 1%, the Commerce Department reported May 13.
May 13, 2014FMCSA Proposes Driver Coercion Rule
Federal regulators issued a proposed rule May 13 that would prohibit motor carriers, shippers, receivers or transportation intermediaries from coercing drivers to violate hours-of-service limits, drug and alcohol testing or hazardous materials rules, and other regulations that could jeopardize safety.
Price of Imported Goods Declines in April
The price of goods imported to the United States fell in April, the first decline since November, the Labor Department reported May. 13.
May 13, 2014Printouts of Onboard Recording Device Records Not Required, FMCSA Says
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued regulatory guidance clarifying that commercial motor vehicles equipped with automatic onboard recording devices do not need to supply print outs of their hours records to inspectors.
Minnesota Carrier Files Lawsuit Against Caterpillar Over Acert Engines
The final generation of diesel truck engines manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. has generated yet another civil lawsuit, this one filed by Minnesota carrier Scenic Boundaries Trans Inc.
Groups Urge West Coast Ports, ILWU to Reach Labor Agreement
A coalition of shippers and transportation groups have sent a letter to the operators of West Coast ports and the union that represents dockworkers urging the sides to come to a labor agreement by time the current six-year contract expires June 30.
May 12, 2014ELDs Significantly Reduce Crashes, FMCSA Study Says
A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study released May 12 concludes that longhaul trucks with electronic logging devices had significantly lower crash rates than those without them.