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, Safety, Government

May Truck Tonnage Drops 3.6%

American Trucking Associations’ advanced for-hire truck tonnage index for May fell to a six-month low and was down 3.6% from a year ago, ATA said Wednesday.

June 28, 2007
Business

Jobless Claims Fall by 13,000 for Week

Initial jobless claims fell by 13,000 last week to 313,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.

June 28, 2007
Business

Brazilian Firms to Supply Engine Blocks for International

International Truck and Engine Corp. said Wednesday that its Brazilian subsidiary and supplier will provide compacted-graphite iron cylinder blocks for its new heavy-duty diesel engines.

June 27, 2007
Business, Government, Logistics

YRC Changes Logistics Unit’s Name; Will Buy Chinese Firm

YRC Worldwide said that it has changed the name of its logistics unit Meridian IQ to YRC Logistics, and that it has entered into a preliminary agreement to buy a big Chinese logistics and trucking company.

June 27, 2007
Government, Business, Safety, Fuel

L.A. Truckers Run Convoy to Back Ports’ Emissions Plan

A convoy of 100 diesel trucks motored slowly along the Harbor Freeway from South Los Angeles to the Port of Long Beach Wednesday as part of a push for cleaner air and better working conditions for drivers, television station KTLA reported on its Web site.

June 27, 2007
Business, Safety, Government

May Truck Tonnage Drops 3.6%

American Trucking Associations’ advanced for-hire truck tonnage index for May fell to a six-month low and was down 3.6% from a year ago, ATA said Wednesday.

June 27, 2007
Business, Safety, Government, Equipment

Feds Order Recall of Chinese-Made Tires

Federal officials ordered a recall of tires made in China after their U.S. distribution company disclosed that the Chinese manufacturer had stopped including a safety feature that prevented tire treads from separating, the New York Times reported.

June 27, 2007
Government, Business, Safety

DHS May Consider Secure Licenses for Border Crossings

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said DHS will consider allowing use of secure driver’s licenses as a means of identification at the U.S. border, the Associated Press reported.

June 27, 2007
Business, Safety, Government, Fuel

Letters to the Editor: SafeStat Scores, Seat Belts

We have had many examples of questionable DOT inspections — including two we had last month in Idaho on the same owner-operator’s tractor-trailer that were clean, but not Level 1s, which are the most thorough standardized inspections.

June 27, 2007