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.
Effects on Diesel Prices, Supply Unclear After Purchases of Two Pa. Refineries
With two major developments in the fuel-supply situation in the Northeast last week, their effects on diesel prices and availability was unclear.
May 7, 2012Private Fleet Executives Praise Natural Gas Trucks
CINCINNATI — There is strong interest among corporate fleet executives in converting from diesel-powered trucks to those that run on compressed and liquefied natural gas as more fueling stations are built and more powerful engines are available, according to panelists at an industry meeting here last week.
May 7, 2012EOBR Makers Expect Change in FMCSA’s Specifications
Federal regulators are likely to prescribe changes to electronic onboard recorder specifications when they issue a new rule mandating the devices for all carriers, in order to prevent driver harassment, according to companies that make EOBRs.
May 7, 2012Daimler, Cummins 1Q Earnings Increase, Show Gains in North American Market
Original equipment manufacturers Daimler AG and Cummins Inc. reported more success in North American truck markets during the year’s first quarter, compensating for problems in other parts of the world.
May 7, 2012Trucking Failures Decline
Truck fleet failures continued to decline early this year, despite high diesel prices that stubbornly remained above $4 per gallon, according to a new report.
May 7, 2012FMCSA to Weigh Costs, Benefits of Crash Accountability Process
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Examining whether creating a better crash-accountability process would be worth the cost to taxpayers will be part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s study of ways to assess and assign fault in truck-related crashes, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro said in an interview.
May 7, 2012Fleets’ Use of Anti-Rollover Systems Climbs as NHTSA’s Proposed Rulemaking Nears
With the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration moving closer to announcing a proposed rulemaking focusing on preventing truck rollovers, fleets increasingly are choosing to install anti-rollover systems on their tractors and trailers, according to industry experts.
May 7, 2012YRC Worldwide, Arkansas Best Report Losses, but First Quarter Is Brighter for Other LTLs
YRC Worldwide Inc. and Arkansas Best Corp.’s less-than-truckload unit reported losses in the first quarter, although three other major carriers reported marked improvement during the period.
May 7, 2012Diesel Dips for Third Week as Middle East Tensions Ease
Retail diesel prices retreated for the third consecutive week, dipping 1.2 cents to put the national average at $4.073 a gallon, the U.S. Department of Energy reported.
May 7, 2012Heavy-Duty Truck Orders Drop 55% in April
Truck producers received 17,200 new orders in April for Class 8 vehicles, a 55% drop from 38,094 in April 2011, ACT Research Co. reported.
May 4, 2012