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, Government

Import Prices Fall for First Time in Six Months

The price of goods imported to the United States fell 0.7% in July, the first decline in six months, the Labor Department said Thursday.

August 13, 2009
Business, Safety, Government

DOT Freight Transport Index Plunges 14.2%

The Department of Transportation’s freight transportation services index fell 14.2% in June from a year earlier, the largest June-to-June decline in the 20 years in which it has been calculated.

August 12, 2009
Business

Fed Again Holds Interest Rate at Record Low

The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to keep a key U.S. interest rate at a record low “target range” of zero to 0.25%.

August 12, 2009
Government, Business

Intermodal Traffic Takes Big Quarterly Drop

Intermodal trailer traffic fell 26.9% in the second quarter of 2009, the Intermodal Association of North America reported.

August 12, 2009
Business, Logistics

Contrans’ Second-Quarter Income Falls

Canadian firm Contrans Income Fund said that its second-quarter profit was C$6.2 million, or 20 cents per unit, down from C$10.2 million, or 35 cents, a year ago.

August 12, 2009
Business

Ritchie Bros.’ Second-Quarter Income Dips

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers earned $38.8 million, or 37 cents per share, in the second quarter, compared with $45.9 million, or 43 cents, a year ago.

August 12, 2009
Business, Government, Safety

DHL Fined $9.4 Million for Embargo Violations

DHL Express will pay the U.S. government $9.4 million in fines to settle a dispute that it made shipments to Iran, Sudan and Syria in violation of U.S. embargoes, the Associated Press reported.

August 12, 2009
Business

Celadon’s Profit Falls for 4Q, Year

Truckload carrier Celadon Group said its fiscal fourth-quarter income fell to $167,000, or 1 cent per share, from $2.2 million, or 10 cents, a year ago.

August 12, 2009
Business

ArvinMeritor to Invest up to $10 Million in Brazil

Vehicle parts maker ArvinMeritor Inc. said it will invest up to $10 million in its commercial vehicle business in Brazil.

August 11, 2009
Business, Safety, Government, Logistics

Opinion: The Customer Service, Dispatch Dilemma

As the recession deepens, there is growing awareness in the transportation industry of the role dispatchers play in keeping third-party logistics firms and freight brokerages competitive, particularly in the areas where dispatch and customer service collide.

August 11, 2009