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.
Norfolk Southern to Take 1Q Charge on Accident Settlement
Eastern freight rail line Norfolk Southern Corp. said Monday it will take a first-quarter charge of 2 cents per share, related to settlement of an accident claim.
April 7, 2008Editorial: Picking an Engine Technology
As we move closer to the next federal mandate on emissions — which comes into force for 2010-model heavy-duty trucks — proponents of the two competing technologies are beginning to publicly argue over the superiority of their choices.
April 7, 2008BNSF Idles Freight Cars Due to Downturn
Freight railroad BNSF Railway Co. is parking miles of rail cars in some parts of the country because there is not enough freight to keep them moving, the Associated Press reported Monday.
April 7, 2008Volvo Says Engines Can Meet Idling Rule
Volvo Trucks North America said its heavy-duty engines can now be equipped with an option to meet California’s anti-idling restrictions.
April 7, 2008Some Analysts See Recovery as ATA Freight Index Gains
The February increase in truck tonnage that American Trucking Associations reported late last month — the fourth straight rise — may signal better times ahead for truckers and the U.S. economy, several industry analysts and observers said.
April 7, 2008Suppliers Cite Diversification as Key to Surviving Downturn
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While many of trucking’s most important suppliers had lackluster sales last year and said they expected more of the same through most of 2008, a few said they were able to weather the double-whammy of 2007’s pre-buy hangover and freight drop-off with revenue from investments in foreign markets less affected by the troubles in North America.
April 7, 2008Originally Promoted to Cut Truck Idling Emissions, APUs Now Embraced by Fleets to Save on Fuel
Auxiliary power units, initially pushed by federal and state governments to reduce air pollution despite concerns by fleet owners and owner-operators over their initial cost, are attracting more buyers who purchase them for the fuel savings, now that average diesel prices are about $4 a gallon.
April 7, 2008EPA Sets $50 Million in Grants for Clean Diesel Projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it is making available almost $50 million in grants to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of diesel engines.
April 7, 2008Diesel Dips 2.5¢ to $3.964
The national average retail diesel price dipped 2.5 cents a gallon last week after six straight increases, the Department of Energy reported, even as gasoline rose 3.1 cents to set a new record high.
April 7, 2008Rates Rise on Indiana Toll Road; Truckers Begin Using I-Zoom
The cost to drive on the Indiana Toll Road rose for all vehicles with three or more axles, as well as two-axle vehicles that were not using the I-Zoom electronic tolling system, which debuted on the road last week.
April 7, 2008