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

Unemployment Rate Jumps to 5.5% in Biggest Jump Since ’86

The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 5.5% in May, from 5% in April, the biggest jump in 22 years, the Labor Department said Friday.

June 6, 2008
Business, Safety

Rail, Intermodal Traffic Decline

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

June 6, 2008
Business

W. Va. Delays Truck Registration Fees’ Due Date

The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles will delay the due date for annual registration payments for most trucks until Sept. 1, from the usual July 1 deadline, the Associated Press reported.

June 5, 2008
Business, Government

Roadcheck 2008 Runs Through Thursday

The three-day Roadcheck 2008, targeting thousands of trucks in the United States, Canada and Mexico, concludes Thursday, as officials inspect thousands of trucks around North America for potential safety violations.

June 5, 2008
Business, Safety, Government, Logistics, Fuel

Mullen Buys Fluid, Oilfield Transport Firm

Canadian transportation firm Mullen Group Income Fund said Thursday it would buy the transport unit of Essential Energy Services Trust for C$135 million.

June 5, 2008
Business

Jobless Claims Fall 18,000 for Week

Initial jobless claims fell by 18,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

June 5, 2008
Government, Business, Logistics

Dynamex Reports Improved 3Q Profit

Logistics and delivery firm Dynamex Inc. said its fiscal third-quarter profit was $3.8 million, or 37 cents a share, up from $3.5 million, or 33 cents, a year earlier.

June 4, 2008
Business, Fuel

Oil Jump Erases Week’s Declines

Crude oil jumped more than $5 a barrel Thursday to close near $128 a barrel, erasing the declines from earlier in the week, and the Energy Department said it would delay scheduled oil deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until next spring, Bloomberg reported.

June 4, 2008
Business, Government

Collins Introduces Bill to Allow Higher Truck Weights

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has introduced legislation that would allow trucks to carry up to 100,000 pounds on federal highways when diesel prices are at least $3.50 a gallon.

June 4, 2008
Business, Safety, Fuel

ATA Backs Oil-Market Investigation

American Trucking Associations said Wednesday that it supports the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission for taking steps toward increasing transparency of the energy futures markets.

June 4, 2008