Business

About Business News...

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.

Perspective, Business

Opinion: ID Theft Takes a Toll on Drivers, Carriers

A top box-office movie this winter was “Identity Thief,” a lightweight comedy about a guy chasing a woman across the country after she stole his identity. The movie’s message was simple: Getting your identity stolen can be funny.

February 25, 2013
Business

January Truck Tonnage Hits Record

Truck tonnage surged 6.5% in January from a year earlier to an all-time high, fueled by inventory restocking in the retail and industrial sectors, American Trucking Associations reported.

February 25, 2013
Business, Technology

EPA’s Greenhouse-Gas Rules Sparking Cooperation Among Engine, Component Manufacturers

ORLANDO, Fla. — Engine manufacturers will not need to make a radical shift in technology to meet federal greenhouse-gas regulations in the next five years, but engine and component makers will have to work more collaboratively to better integrate their products to boost efficiency, suppliers said.

February 25, 2013
Business, Equipment

Dealers, Fleets Increase Use of Scrap Analysis to Extend Life of Tires, Cut Costs for Carriers

Every month or so, Dustin Stricker, the maintenance manager at R.E. West Transportation in Ashland City, Tenn., sits down with representatives from South Carolina-based Michelin North America and the local Tire Centers in Nashville to do autopsies on truck tires.

February 25, 2013
Business

Most Road Programs Safe From Sequester But Fallout Could Pose Risk to Trucking

While most highway construction and safety programs that depend on federal funding will be protected from automatic budget cuts that will take effect March 1 unless Congress and President Obama reach an agreement, trucking could still face some risks.

February 25, 2013
Business

Medium-Duty Sales Rise for 38th Straight Month

Medium-duty U.S. retail truck sales rose 13.6% in January above the same month in 2012, the 38th consecutive month of improvement, WardsAuto.com said.

February 25, 2013
Business

Wyoming Fuel Taxes Will Rise 10¢ on July 1

Wyoming has agreed to increase its tax on diesel and gasoline by 10 cents, to 24 cents a gallon as of July 1, a change that was supported by the state’s trucking industry.

February 25, 2013
Business, Logistics

Logistics Consolidations Expand, Driven by Trend to Outsource

Logistics businesses have combined at a brisk pace so far this year, with no less than 10 reported transactions as companies scoop up rivals, extend into new markets or change their corporate strategy altogether.

February 25, 2013
Business

New Chief Executives Hired at USA Truck, Panther

Two of the nation’s largest trucking companies hired new chief executives last week, with USA Truck and Panther Expedited Services announcing new top leadership.

February 25, 2013
Business

Bernhard to Replace Renschler as Daimler Global Truck Chief

Daimler AG last week shook up the top management of its global truck and car manufacturing units, moving Andreas Renschler to take over auto production from Wolfgang Bernhard and switching Bernhard to the truck unit.

February 25, 2013