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 Operating Ratio Paradigm
For 25 years or longer, operating ratio (the ratio of operating expenses to operating revenue) has been a common measure of profitability and efficiency in the truckload transportation industry.
November 25, 2013Editorial: Expensive HOS Changes
New data clearly support what many of us have been saying for months: The new changes to the federal hours-of-service rule for truck drivers are reducing productivity, undermining service levels and raising costs.
November 25, 2013Chassis Users Can Expect Higher Rates, Better Equipment, Leasing Execs Predict
HOUSTON — Chassis users can expect higher rates, better quality equipment and no short-term resolution to the intermodal industry’s equipment challenges, top executives of the three largest chassis leasing companies said.
November 25, 2013Nat-Gas Advocates to Switch Their Focus to Attracting Over-the-Road Fleet Users
ATLANTA — Natural gas-vehicle stakeholders said that after making strides in fueling the “return-to-base” trucking market, they are now moving to zero in on the over-the-road heavy-duty segment of the market.
November 25, 2013Tonnage Jumps 8% in Oct.
U.S. truck tonnage rose 8% in October from a year earlier, even though it fell short of the all-time high recorded in the previous month, American Trucking Associations reported.
November 25, 2013Ferro, House Republicans Spar Over HOS Rule Changes
House Republicans and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Anne Ferro sparred over the 34-hour restart provision of the new hours-of-service rule for truck drivers at a hearing last week, with some members accusing her agency of “arrogance” and slowness in producing a congressionally required study on the rule.
November 25, 2013Hill OKs Tracking Requirement For Transport of Pharmaceuticals
A bill requiring companies to track the distribution of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals was approved by Congress last week.
November 25, 2013HOS Changes Hurt Carriers, Lower Driver Pay, ATRI Says
Just four months into the federal hours-of-service rules on rest breaks, carriers said they have had to hire more drivers, pay higher wages, buy more rigs, juggle work schedules and lower customer expectations of service.
November 25, 2013Intermodal Leaders See Growth Opportunities In Mexico, the East and Refrigerated Freight
HOUSTON — Intermodal transportation continues to see growth opportunities in Mexico, the eastern region of the United States, temperature-controlled service and partnerships with brokers.
November 25, 2013Industry Regs Dominate Mexico Truck Show As Carriers Seek to Modernize Their Fleets
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Trucking regulations for this nation, while in a state of tremendous flux, set the backdrop at the Expotransporte truck show here Nov. 13-15.
November 25, 2013