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.
Editorial: 21st Century Truck Partnership Woes
It is disappointing to see that the 21st Century Truck Partnership is foundering, the victim of insufficient funding and questionable research priorities, according to a new report from the National Academy of Sciences.
July 14, 2008YRC to Test Hybrid Trucks in Cities
YRC Worldwide will begin testing hybrid trucks this year as part of a corporate commitment to sustainability and said it will save as much as $40 million annually by streamlining its service network to speed up transit times.
July 14, 2008Port Workers Slow Productivity as Contract Talks Continue
Dockworkers at West Coast ports are staging slowdowns by coordinating their break times, as the union representing them continues to negotiate a contract after the previous one expired July 1, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
July 14, 2008Used Trailer Prices Plummet as Fleets Delay Replacements
Thousands of used trailers are sitting unsold and gathering dust, as freight demand remains tepid and carriers that would typically up-grade their fleets are postponing purchases, spending their money on fuel instead, according to industry experts.
July 14, 2008Insurance Premiums Fall 10% to 50% as New Firms Enter Market
A wave of new insurance companies vying for business from the trucking industry has created an unusual — and welcome — situation: Rates are dropping.
July 14, 2008Industry Urges Bigger Trucks, But Key Lawmaker Has Doubts
WASHINGTON — Representatives of trucking and shippers urged Congress to increase truck size and weight limits, but the chairman of the House transportation committee said he opposed longer combination vehicles and had doubts about raising weight limits.
July 14, 2008Diesel Increases to $4.727 a Gallon
The average retail price of diesel jumped 8.2 cents to $4.727 a gallon last week, more than wiping out the entire 7.8-cent drop in the price of trucking’s main fuel over the previous five weeks, the Department of Energy reported July 7.
July 14, 2008ATA Asks Lawmakers to Take Steps to Lower Fuel Prices
American Trucking Associations asked Congress to implement a comprehensive plan to address the soaring price of diesel fuel and ensures an affordable fuel supply for the nation’s 3.5 million truck drivers.
July 11, 2008Oil Tops $147 a Barrel; Closes Week Over $145
Crude oil reached a record Friday, jumping $5 to top $147 a barrel for the first time, before retreating to finish the trading week at just over $145, the Associated Press reported.
July 11, 2008DOT Gives Wisconsin $1 Million to Repair Flood-Damaged Roads
The Department of Transportation said Friday it is making $1 million available immediately to Wisconsin to help pay for urgent repairs to roads and bridges damaged by recent floods.
July 11, 2008