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.
Senators Pledge Support for Long-Term Highway Bill
The four U.S. senators leading the transportation reauthorization debate this year said they have reached a bipartisan agreement that the bill will be long term and funded at current spending levels plus inflation.
Commission Recommends That Ports of L.A., Long Beach Merge
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., should merge into a super port that would be more competitive with others around the country, according to a report from a citizens commission released this month.
House Adopts Ryan Budget Resolution
The House by a narrow vote adopted a budget proposal April 10 that calls for offsetting transfers from the general federal fund to a major highway account with savings elsewhere in the budget.
Judicial Panel Orders Consolidation of Pilot Flying J Rebate Cases
A federal judicial panel in Lexington, Ky., ordered the consolidation of seven lawsuits filed against Pilot Flying J seeking damages in connection to a rebate fraud scheme, the Tennessean reported.
April 10, 2014Swedish Pension Fund Declines VW’s Scania Bid
A Swedish pension fund that holds a small amount of Sweden-based Scania has declined Volkswagen’s $9.2 billion offer to buy out the rest of the truck maker.
April 10, 2014Import Prices Rise for Fourth Month
The price of goods imported to the United States rose 0.6% in March, the fourth consecutive increase, the Labor Department reported April 10.
April 10, 2014Port of Baltimore Handled Record Amount of Cargo in 2013
The Port of Baltimore said it handled a record amount of cargo in 2013 in containers, autos and wood pulp.
April 10, 2014Weekly Jobless Claims Decline to Lowest Level Since 2007
Jobless claims fell by 32,000 last week to 300,000 — the lowest since May 2007, the Labor Department reported April 10.
April 10, 2014DOT Freight Index Rebounds in February
The Department of Transportation’s freight transportation services index rose 2.1% in February from the same month last year and rose from January, rebounding from two sequential monthly declines.
April 10, 2014Cummins, Beiqi Foton Unveil New Truck, Engine for Chinese Market
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Cummins Inc. and China’s Beiqi Foton Motor Co. unveiled a new truck model here for the Chinese market that will be powered by the Cummins ISG engine.