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

ISM Factory Index Shows Expansion in January

The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index moved into positive territory and showed expansion in January, ISM said Friday.

February 1, 2008
Business, Government

Opinion: Reality-Based Carrier Pricing and Driver Pay

Events in the year just ended could foreshadow changes in the way trucking is priced. While some developments involved new trucking technology, others have resulted from legal, legislative and regulatory developments.

February 1, 2008
Business, Government

Consumer Sentiment Improves in January

U.S. consumer confidence rose in January, according to the University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

February 1, 2008
Business, Government, Autonomous

Panel Recommends NYC Congestion-Fee Plan

The commission in charge of creating congestion-fee plan for New York City voted Thursday to approve a scaled-down version of an original proposal, but the plan would still charge cars and most trucks fees to enter the central part of Manhattan, the Associated Press reported.

February 1, 2008
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety

Ryder’s Fourth-Quarter Income Improves

Ryder System said Friday its fourth-quarter profit rose 9.3%, as its contract business improved.

February 1, 2008
Business

Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.9%; Payrolls Decline

The U.S. unemployment rate dipped to 4.9% in January from 5% in December, though payrolls declined, the Labor Department said Friday.

February 1, 2008
Business, Safety

Rail, Intermodal Fall for Week

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

February 1, 2008
Business, Safety, Government

NAFTA Surface Trade Climbs 8.6%

Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico jumped 8.6% in November from a year earlier, the Department of Transportation said Thursday.

January 31, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Logistics

New Border Security Rules Take Effect

New rules for the types of identification that U.S. and Canadian citizens must present to cross into the country took effect Thursday and authorities were optimistic the changes would not cause significant delays, the Associated Press reported.

January 31, 2008
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety

Landstar’s Fourth-Quarter Profit Improves

Truckload carrier Landstar System said Thursday its fourth-quarter net income rose to $29 million, or 54 cents a share, from $28.7 million, or 50 cents, a year earlier.

January 31, 2008