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

Parcel Giant Switching to Containers on Flatcars

UPS Inc., in order to reduce costs and improve its scheduling, is switching to sending containers on flatcars by rail and moving away from shipping trailers on flatcars.

August 13, 2007
Business

Beckham Promoted to CEO of USA Truck

Truckload carrier USA Truck, Van Buren, Ark., said Friday that it has appointed Cliff Beckham its president and chief executive officer.

August 10, 2007
Business, Government

Import Prices Rise 1.5% in July

The price of goods imported to the United States rose for a sixth straight month in July, on higher oil costs, the Labor Department reported Friday.

August 10, 2007
Business

Bush Opposes Gas Tax Hike to Fund Bridge Repairs

President Bush said Thursday that he was opposed to funding bridge repairs by raising the federal gasoline tax, as proposed Wednesday by Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the Associated Press reported.

August 10, 2007
Business

Intermodal Volumes Decline in Second Quarter, IANA Says

Overall intermodal volumes for the second quarter of 2007 fell to 3.35 million units from last year’s level of 3.58 million units, the Intermodal Association of North America said.

August 10, 2007
Business, Government, Safety

Letters to the Editor: Fifth Wheels, Congestion Fees, HOS Ruling, Hazmat Regulations

Allow me to begin by expressing our appreciation for including information about JOST Interna-tional in the July 9 edition of Transport Topics’ Equipment & Maintenance Update supplement in an article titled, “On the Care and Feeding of the Humble Fifth Wheel” (E&MU, p. 1).

August 10, 2007
Business, Safety

Rail Volumes for Week Rise, Intermodal Falls, AAR Says

Rail carload traffic rose slightly compared with a year ago for the week ended Saturday, while intermodal volumes declined, the Association of American Railroads said.

August 9, 2007
Business

Jobless Claims Rise 7,000 for Week

Initial jobless claims rose 7,000 to 316,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

August 9, 2007
Business

Quality's Profits Fall in Q2

Tank truck carrier Quality Distribution, Tampa, Fla., said its second-quarter net income sank to $2.2 million or 12 cents a share, compared with $5.5 million or 28 cents a year ago.

August 9, 2007
Government, Business, Safety, Logistics

Contrans' Earnings Fall in 2Q

Canadian firm Contrans Income Fund’s second-quarter income dropped to C$1.5 million or 5 cents a unit, from C$10.3 million or 36 cents a year ago.

August 8, 2007