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, Fuel, Government

U.S. Trade Deficit Widens in November

The U.S. trade deficit expanded by 10.4% in November as exports declined to a four-month low, the Commerce Department said Friday.

January 13, 2012
Business, Fuel

Ryder Signs First Lease for Natural Gas Trucks

Ryder System said it has signed its first leasing agreement under its “Flex-to-Green” program, which offers companies the option to incorporate alternative fuel vehicles into their fleets.

January 13, 2012
Business, Safety, Government

Hostess Brands Again Files for Bankruptcy

Hostess Brands, the maker of Twinkies snack cakes and Wonder bread, filed for bankruptcy Wednesday, less than three years after completing an earlier restructuring.

Daniel P. Bearth | Staff Writer
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January 13, 2012
Business

Retail Sales Edge Up 0.1% in December

Retail sales improved 0.1% in December, the smallest gain in seven months, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

January 12, 2012
Business

Business Inventories Rise in November

Business inventories rose 0.3% in November while sales increased, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

January 12, 2012
Business

Daimler Adding Shift at N.C. Freightliner Plant; Will Hire 1,100 Workers This Year

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Daimler Trucks North America officials said they will be adding a second shift to the company’s heavy-duty truck plant in Cleveland, N.C., adding 1,100 jobs over the course of this year.

January 12, 2012
Business

Jobless Claims Rise for Week

Initial jobless claims increased by 24,000 last week to 399,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.

January 12, 2012
Business

Ceridian-UCLA Trucking Index Slips 0.7% Year-Over-Year

The Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index, which measures diesel fuel card purchases at truck stops, slipped in December from a year ago but showed improvement from November.

January 12, 2012
Business, Logistics

On-Dock Intermodal Debuts at Virginia Terminal

CSX Corp.’s rail unit on Jan. 3 began offering on-dock rail intermodal service at Portsmouth, Va., marking the latest step in its multistate National Gateway project to expand double-stack service in the eastern United States.

January 12, 2012
Business, Equipment

Dana Estimates Stronger 2011 Earnings, Sales

Dana Holding Corp. estimated its adjusted 2011 earnings will be higher than the previous year, and that its 2012 sales will be at least 5% over 2011.

January 11, 2012