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.
Rail, Intermodal Traffic Gain
Rail carload and intermodal traffic rose for week ended Saturday compared with a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.
January 17, 2008Fed ‘Beige Book’ Cites Softer Freight Volumes
Economic activity increased modestly from of mid-November through early January, although demand for transportation services was generally weak, the Federal Reserve said.
January 17, 2008Jobless Claims Fall for Week
Initial jobless claims fell by 21,000 for the week ended Saturday to 301,000, the lowest level since September, the Labor Department said Thursday.
January 17, 2008FedEx Says It Cuts Some LTL Delivery Times
FedEx Corp. said its less-than-truckload unit, FedEx Freight, improved its service in key U.S. markets, and that its FedEx National LTL unit now provides long-haul shippers with improved on-time service.
January 17, 2008Teamsters Say UPS Freight Workers Sign Cards in New England
The Teamsters union said workers at seven UPS Freight terminals in New England signed cards to join the union, although the cards must now be sent to a neutral arbitrator.
January 17, 2008TTNews.com to Close for Holiday, Inauguration Day
Transport Topics Online will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Tuesday, Jan. 20, due to the presidential inauguration. Please check back on Wednesday, Jan. 21, for the latest trucking and freight transportation news.
January 16, 2008Oil Falls to Four-Week Low
Crude oil dipped below $90 a barrel Wednesday for the first time in four weeks, before rebounding to close at $90.84, Bloomberg reported.
January 16, 2008Letters to the Editor: HOS, Owner-Operators, Driver Training, Traffic Jams
I think everyone is becoming tired of the continued drama from the hours-of-service debacle. Does the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration really believe they can reissue the same rules the courts have thrown out twice and they will now be accepted?
January 16, 2008Industrial Production Unchanged in December
Industrial production was unchanged in December, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.
January 16, 2008EPA Completes Draft ‘Greenhouse’ Regs
The Environmental Protection Agency has completed its draft of new regulations to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from cars and trucks, Bloomberg reported.
January 16, 2008