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

Trailer Orders Jump by 31%; Backlog Stretches Into 2012

September orders for new trailers jumped 31% from a year earlier, following a summer slowdown, and trailer manufacturers said their production backlog combined with ongoing intake strength would keep factories busy well into next year.

October 31, 2011
Business

Working With Federal Officials Gives Carriers Best Chance to Affect Rulemaking Process

GRAPEVINE, Texas — One of the most effective ways for motor carriers to have more effect on the federal rulemaking process is to collaborate with agencies on research that yields valuable data, officials said.

October 31, 2011
Business

Senators, House GOP Work Separately to Devise Transportation Spending Plans

A bipartisan group of four key U.S. senators last week set a date to begin working on a two-year surface transportation spending measure to replace the one that expired in 2009.

October 31, 2011
Business

Fleets Report Strong Quarterly Earnings

Earnings reports and comments about the current quarter from publicly traded freight-related companies are signaling continued industry strength.

October 31, 2011
Business

First Mexican Truck Crosses U.S. Border as Pilot Program Resumes for 3-Year Test

Mexico-based Transportes Olympic sent the first Mexican truck into the United States in more than two years this month as part of the cross-border trucking agreement between the countries, kicking off the three-year test of Mexican carriers.

October 31, 2011
Business

UPS Reports Profit Growth As LTL, Package Rates Rise

UPS Inc. last week said strong results in its less-than-truckload unit, where revenue rose 15%, helped the company to report a 5.1% increase in third-quarter net income to $1.04 billion.

October 31, 2011
Business

HOS Debate Heats Up on Capitol Hill as FMCSA Nears Regulation Deadline

As federal regulators worked behind closed doors late last week to meet a court deadline for posting a final hours-of-service rule, trucking industry stakeholders and members of Congress stepped up the level of public debate.

October 31, 2011
Business, Fuel

Diesel Price Gains 2.4¢ to $3.825 in Second Straight Increase

The average price of retail diesel in the United States rose 2.4 cents a gallon to $3.825 last week, the second straight increase after five weekly declines, the Department of Energy reported.

October 31, 2011
Business, Technology

Iteris’ Fiscal 2Q Income Jumps

Iteris Inc., a provider of traffic management technology, said its fiscal second-quarter earnings more than doubled from a year ago.

October 28, 2011
Business, Government

Arkansas Best Posts 3Q Profit

Arkansas Best Corp. swung to a third-quarter profit from loss a year ago on improved pricing, the company said Friday.

October 28, 2011