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.
Letters: Broker Authority, Cap-and-Trade Bill
David Dwinell is right and, respectfully, Jeffrey Tucker is wrong: There no longer is such a thing as a contract carrier, so the FAQs [frequently asked questions] Tucker relies upon have been overtaken by events.
August 2, 2010Celebrating Industry’s Finest
August is our favorite month. It’s usually a relaxed time of year, when most people take vacations and kick back a little before rushing back into the thick of things. The seasonal shipping crush usually begins to take shape in September, so August feels a bit like the lull before the storm.
August 2, 2010FMCSA Sends New HOS Proposal to White House for Review
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it sent its hours-of-service proposal to the White House for review on July 26.
August 2, 2010Fuel-Efficiency Focus Should Be on Tractors, Engines, Rather Than Trailers, ATA Says
Federal transportation officials considering fuel-efficiency standards for heavy trucks should concentrate their early regulatory efforts on engines and tractors, not trailers, American Trucking Associations said.
August 2, 2010PHMSA Seeks to Eliminate Requirements for Special Permits to Haul Certain Hazmats
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has proposed a rule that would eliminate requirements for special permits to haul some hazmats, ranging from liquefied petroleum gas to anhydrous ammonia fertilizers.
August 2, 2010New Bill Offers $64,000 Rebate for Natural-Gas Class 8 Trucks
Senate Democrats introduced legislation last week that would provide truckers rebates of $64,000 for every natural-gas Class 8 truck put into service by 2013.
August 2, 2010Senate Bill Would Require DOT to Issue Plan to Resolve U.S.-Mexico Trucking Impasse
The Obama administration must produce a plan to solve the ongoing border trucking dispute with Mexico by October, under a provision inserted in the Transportation Department’s 2011 budget.
August 2, 2010Diesel Increases 2¢ to $2.919
The U.S. retail diesel average price reversed course last week, rising 2 cents a gallon to $2.919 after dropping 6.2 cents over the previous four weeks, the Department of Energy reported.
August 2, 2010Consumer Confidence Falls in July
Consumer confidence fell this month to the lowest level since November, according to the latest Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.
July 30, 2010Intermec’s Second-Quarter Loss Narrows
Supply chain technology firm Intermec Inc. said its second-quarter net earnings loss was $2.7 million, or 4 cents per share, compared with a loss of $6.5 million, or 11 cents, a year ago.
July 30, 2010