Business

California state lawmakers are planning toll-road projects that could be a future trend in the state, and some of the first projects will be targeted to roads that move goods from the state’s ports, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The average national price of retail diesel fuel jumped 4.1 cents to $2.476 a gallon, the Department of Energy said Monday.

Forward Air Corp., a contractor to the air cargo industry, reported its fourth-quarter net income matched the previous year’s, at $12.2 million, while earnings per share climbed to 40 cents a share from 38 cents.

Package-delivery and supply chain management firm Velocity Express said Tuesday it lost $15.2 million or 61 cents a share in its second quarter ended Dec. 30, compared with a loss of $5.6 million or 35 cents a year ago.

Logistics firm Expeditors International of Washington on Tuesday said its fourth-quarter profits fell to $62.6 million or 28 cents a share, down from $74.3 million or 34 cents a year ago.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) has proposed a new tax on oil companies to help raise needed funds for the state’s transportation projects, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Bankrupt auto-parts maker Delphi Corp. said losses in its third quarter ended Sep. 30 widened to $2 billion from $788 million in the third quarter of 2005 as the company spent more on job cuts and U.S. auto makers produced fewer cars, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Third-party logistics provider Hub Group said late Monday it earned $13.5 million or 34 cents a share in the fourth quarter, up from $10.1 million or 25 cents a share for the same quarter a year earlier.

Ryder System said Monday its board approved a 3-cent increase in its dividend, boosting the payout to 21 cents a share.

Private-equity firm Fenway Partners said Monday it has partnered with the current owners of refrigerated-unit carrier Gemini Traffic Sales to acquire a majority interest in the truckload and less-than-truckload carrier.