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

Daimler Sets Month-Long German Production Halt

Daimler AG will close its 14 plants in its home country of Germany for a month starting in December as it slows production because of falling demand for cars and trucks, Bloomberg reported Monday.

October 27, 2008
Business, Government

New Home Sales Rise 2.7% in September

New home sales rose 2.7% in September from a 17-year low the month before, the Commerce Department said Monday.

October 27, 2008
Business, Government

New Home Sales Rise 2.7% in September

New home sales rose 2.7% in September from a 17-year low the month before, the Commerce Department said Monday.

October 27, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Fuel

CARB Diesel Regs Available for Public Comment

The California Air Resources Board has made available for public comment the latest draft version of two regulations that are aimed at cleaning up emissions from the estimated 1 million heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in California.

October 27, 2008
Government, Business, Safety

Opinion: Include Fleet Managers in Software Decisions

Although 2009 approaches, and technology seems to surround us everywhere we turn, many companies still don’t consider fleet maintenance a first-tier, mission-critical function, putting it instead in the “necessary evil” category.

October 27, 2008
Business, Logistics, Government

Gasoline Plunges 53¢ in Two Weeks, to $2.78 a Gallon, Lundberg Says

The national average price of regular gasoline plunged 53 in the two weeks ended Friday to $2.78 a gallon, according to the latest Lundberg Survey of filling stations released Sunday.

October 27, 2008
Government, Business, Fuel

Oil Hits 17-Month Low Near $60 a Barrel

With world financial markets in turmoil, the price of crude oil continued to tumble, reaching a 17-month low below $62 a barrel, Bloomberg reported Monday.

October 27, 2008
Business, Government, Safety

LTL Earnings Sag in 3Q; Carriers See Weaker Demand

Publicly traded less-than-truckload carriers generally posted lower earnings in the third quarter, with several fleets warning that freight volumes would get worse as the fourth quarter unfolds.

October 27, 2008
Business, Safety, Fuel

Justice Department Backs ATA in Effort to Block Ports’ Plans

The U.S. Department of Justice last week backed American Trucking Associations’ attempt to block concession requirements included in the clean-trucks plans adopted by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif.

October 27, 2008
Business, Government

Profits Jump at Largest Railroads Despite Drop in Freight Traffic

North America’s five biggest railroads flexed their pricing muscles to earn $2.85 billion in the third quarter, raising revenue per shipment 20% despite lower freight traffic.

October 27, 2008