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, Logistics

CSX Reports 4Q Profit Gain

Eastern freight rail line CSX Corp. said Tuesday its fourth-quarter earnings rose more than 5% from a year earlier, to $365 million or 86 cents a share, from $347 million or 75 cents a year earlier.

January 22, 2008
Business, Equipment, Autonomous

Eaton’s 4Q Earnings Rise; Truck Segment Declines

Heavy-duty vehicle parts manufacturer Eaton Corp. said Tuesday its fourth-quarter net earnings rose 8%, and the company boosted its dividend too.

January 22, 2008
Business, Government, Safety, Logistics, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous

Panel Urges Infrastructure Overhaul

WASHINGTON — In a controversial report calling for huge new spending on the national transportation system, a congressional commission last week made several recommendations that would affect trucking, including new flexibility in the federal driver hours-of-service rule in congestion-prone areas.

January 21, 2008
Business, Safety, Government

DOT’s Peters Disavows Commission’s Proposals

WASHINGTON — A congressional report calling for a huge new federal investment in transportation infrastructure financed by hefty tax increases brought sharp opposition from Republicans, including Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, who led the commission.

January 21, 2008
Business

Dec. Truck Sales Fall 54.5% to Close Worst Year Since ’03

U.S. truck sales finished their worst year since 2003 last month, plummeting 54.5% from the level of December 2006. For the entire year, U.S. heavy-duty sales during 2007 were 46.8% below the record set last year, according to data supplied by WardsAuto.com.

January 21, 2008
Fuel, Business, Government

Diesel, Gas Dip As Petroleum Prices Retreat

U.S. retail fuel prices dipped last week, as crude oil costs fell. The Department of Energy said the average price for diesel around the nation was 5 cents a gallon lower at $3.326, while gas slipped 4.1 cents to $3.068.

January 21, 2008
Business

Bush Calls for $150 Bln. Economic Stimulus Plan

President Bush proposed a growth package of as much as $150 billion Friday to counter escalating risks to an economic expansion now in its seventh year, Bloomberg reported.

January 18, 2008
Business, Government

January Michigan Sentiment Index Improves

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

January 18, 2008
Business, Government

Leading Economic Indicators Decline 0.2%

An index of leading economic indicators fell 0.2% last month, the New York-based Conference Board said Friday.

January 18, 2008
Fuel, Business

Safeway’s Fleet to Use Biodiesel

Grocery chain Safeway Inc. said its fleet of more than 1,000 trucks nationwide will run with a mix of biodiesel fuel, the Washington Post reported Friday.

January 18, 2008