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.

Business

GAO Launches Inquiry of Northeast Toll Increases

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has notified four interstate tolling authorities in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania that it has launched an inquiry into how they decide to raise tolls and how they spend the money.

July 30, 2012
Business

Fleet Failures Hit Lowest Level In at Least 25 Years, Report Says

Trucking bankruptcies reached their lowest level in at least 25 years during the second quarter as freight demand and pricing remained strong enough to sustain virtually every fleet, a new Avondale Partners report said.

July 30, 2012
Business

Tonnage Growth Slowing

The rate of growth in freight in the United States slowed again in June, mirroring the weakening recovery in the overall economy, according to a key market barometer.

July 30, 2012
Business

ATA Asks Court to Overturn HOS Revisions; Says Decisions Based on ‘Sham’ of Analysis

Changes announced in December to the federal hours-of-service rule rely on a “sham” of an analysis and unjustifiable assumptions, American Trucking Associations told a federal court last week, urging the court to overturn the provisions of the rule that restrict the 34-hour restart and require an off-duty break.

July 30, 2012
Business

LTL Boosts UPS’ 2Q Results; Firm Warns on Rest of 2012

UPS Inc. raised second-quarter earnings to $1.12 billion, with help from its less-than-truckload unit, but the biggest parcel and freight carrier warned that its second-half profit will be diminished by a weakening U.S. economy.

July 30, 2012
Business

OEMs Object to Test Plan For Stability Control Rule

WASHINGTON — While expressing support for a proposed electronic stability control mandate for heavy vehicles, the companies that make those vehicles strongly objected to the regulation’s test procedure for getting vehicles certified and urged federal regulators to consider alternative tests.

July 30, 2012
Business

Volvo, Paccar Plan Truck Production Cuts as North American Orders Remain Slow

Volvo Trucks and Paccar Inc. last week announced plans to cut production, citing a slowdown in North American Class 8 truck orders.

July 30, 2012
Business, Fuel

Diesel Price Jumps 8.8¢ to $3.783; Gasoline Also Rises for Third Week

U.S. retail diesel and gasoline prices rose for the third straight week, taking back more of the substantial cost drops that dominated the second quarter of the year, the Department of Energy reported July 23.

July 30, 2012
Business

Echo Global Logistics’ 2Q Income Rises

Echo Global Logistics said its second-quarter profit rose as revenue climbed.

July 27, 2012
Business

Saia’s 2Q Income Rises

Saia Inc. said its second-quarter net income increased to $11.9 million, from $3.4 million in the prior-year period.

July 27, 2012