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, Logistics, Government

Gasoline Surges 15¢ to $3.62

Gasoline prices jumped 15 cents in the past two weeks to a national average $3.62 a gallon, according to the latest Lundberg Survey of filling stations released Sunday.

May 5, 2008
Business, Government, Safety, Fuel

Fuel Cards Offer New Services as Competition Intensifies

Competition among fuel-card providers to keep major fleets is intensifying as carriers seek to mitigate the $4-a-gallon cost of fuel by paying closer attention to how it’s purchased.

May 5, 2008
Business, Government

March Freight Dips; First Decline Since October

A report that truck tonnage declined in March provided new evidence that the U.S. economy is still weak, amid more signs that manufacturing and consumer spending will generate less freight for trucking to move in months to come.

May 5, 2008
Government, Business, Safety

Complex Engines Can Help Dealer Profits, ATD Says

GRAPEVINE, Texas — The increasing complexity of diesel engines represents a major opportunity for profitability in dealership maintenance shops, said the departing chairman of American Truck Dealers.

May 5, 2008
Business, Logistics, Fuel, Government

Diesel Rises 3.4¢ to $4.177

U.S. retail diesel prices set a record for the third consecutive week as the national average rose 3.4 cents a gallon to $4.177, according to data from the Department of Energy.

May 5, 2008
Business

Teamsters Ratify DHL Contract

The Teamsters union said Friday its members ratified a new five-year contract with DHL Express that will cover about 7,000 workers.

May 2, 2008
Business

Ritchie Bros. Reports Slight Drop in 1Q Income

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers said it earned $16.4 million, or 16 cents per share, in the first quarter, down slightly from $17.6 million, or 17 cents, a year ago.

May 2, 2008
Business

Unemployment Rate Dips to 5%; Payrolls Fall by 20,000

U.S. payrolls fell by 20,000 last month in a third straight downturn, and the unemployment rate fell to 5% from 5.1%, the Labor Department said Friday.

May 2, 2008
Business, Safety

ATD Honors Rush as 2008 Truck Dealer of Year

W. Marvin Rush, founder and chairman of the only truck dealership chain traded on a major U.S. stock exchange, has been honored as the 2008 Truck Dealer of the Year by the American Truck Dealers trade association.

May 2, 2008
Business, Safety

Intermodal Falls 4.4% for Week

Rail intermodal traffic fell 4.4% for the week ended Saturday compared with the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.

May 2, 2008