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, Equipment, Fuel

Accuride, Benecor to Distribute Urea

Accuride Corp., a maker of wheels, chassis parts and seat assemblies for commercial trucks and trailers, said it will form a joint venture with Benecor Inc. to distribute diesel exhaust fluid, or urea, at truck stops, fuel stations and fleet locations.

March 31, 2008
Business, Safety, Government

Oberstar Seeks $500 Billion for Transportation Projects

The chairman of the transportation committee of the U.S. House of Representatives wants Congress to increase the funding available for highway and infrastructure projects to about $500 billion, almost twice the current allocation, Bloomberg reported.

March 31, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Fuel

Fuel Efficiency in Spotlight at Mid-America Trucking Show

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Talk of fuel efficiency and reduced engine emissions largely displaced glitz and chrome at center stage at the Mid-America Trucking Show last week.

March 31, 2008
Business, Fuel

Emissions Debate Heats Up as Daimler Defends SCR

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The simmering debate among truck makers over the best way to meet the government’s much tighter emissions mandate suddenly got a lot hotter here last week, as Daimler Truck executives aggressively struck back at competitors’ negative comments about the technology they have chosen — selective catalytic reduction.

March 31, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Equipment

Equipment Lessors Consolidate, Reduce Fleet Sizes to Adjust for Changing Demand

A weak economy and a deteriorating business environment for truckers are creating challenges and opportunities for equipment leasing and rental companies, executives in the field say.

March 31, 2008
Fuel, Business, Government

Diesel Tops Previous High

The average retail price of U.S. diesel rose another 1.5 cents a gallon to $3.989 last week, extending to five the string of record-high fuel prices recorded by the Department of Energy’s weekly report.

March 31, 2008
Business, Safety

Intermodal Falls 5.2% for Week

Rail intermodal traffic fell 5.2% for the week ended Saturday compared with a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.

March 28, 2008
Business, Government

Consumer Confidence Falls to 16-Year Low

U.S. consumer confidence fell this month to a 16-year low, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index, released Friday.

March 28, 2008
Business, Fuel, Government

UTI Worldwide’s Fourth-Quarter Earnings Decline

Air and ocean freight forwarder UTi Worldwide said its fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell 20% to $18 million, or 18 cents a share, including a restructuring charge that cut earnings by 6 cents a share.

March 28, 2008
Government, Business

Personal Spending Rises 0.1%

Consumer personal spending rose in February at the slowest pace in more than a year, the Commerce Department said Friday.

March 28, 2008