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.

Government, Business

FHWA Issues $5.6 Million to States for Innovation Projects

FHWA announced May 26 that $5.6 million had been distributed in Accelerated Innovation Deployment Demonstration program grants.

Eleanor Lamb | Staff Reporter
May 28, 2021
Government, Business, Logistics

Hudson River Rail Tunnel Gets Environmental OK

Amtrak’s proposed $11.6 billion passenger rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey received long-delayed environmental clearance from U.S. officials, the project’s biggest step forward in years. The decision is crucial to start the next phase of work and secure billions of federal dollars for what’s considered one of the most vital U.S. infrastructure needs.

Elise Young | Bloomberg News
May 28, 2021
Business, Technology, Fuel, Autonomous

Stellantis Considers Battery-Manufacturing Investment in Italy

Italy’s government is in talks with Stellantis NV, the carmaker formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group, about investing in electric-vehicle battery manufacturing in the country, according to people familiar with the matter.

May 28, 2021
Business, Technology, Fuel, Autonomous

Analysts Expect Electric F-150 to Capture Commercial Sales

Commercial buyers will be among the fastest adopters of electric pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning that will go on sale next year, according to industry analysts.

Jerry Hirsch | Contributing Writer
May 28, 2021
Government, Business

Consumers Boosted Spending by Just 0.5% in April

WASHINGTON — Americans increased their spending by a slight 0.5% in April, a slowdown after a massive gain in March that had been powered by the distribution of billions of dollars in individual stimulus checks.

Martin Crutsinger | Associated Press
May 28, 2021
Business, Technology, Fuel, Autonomous

Safety Ratings Yanked After Tesla Pulls Radar From Two Models

DETROIT — Two key groups that offer automobile safety ratings are yanking their top endorsements from some Tesla vehicles because the company has stopped using radar on its safety systems.

Tom Krisher | Associated Press
May 28, 2021
Business, Technology, Fuel, Autonomous

Ford: Electric Vehicles to Be 40% of Global Sales by 2030

Ford expects 40% of its global sales to be battery-electric vehicles by 2030 as it adds billions to what it’s spending to develop them.

Tom Krisher | Associated Press
May 28, 2021
Business, Equipment

Average Price for Used Class 8 Sets All-Time Record

The average sales price for a used Class 8 sold in April set the all-time record, clearing $57,000, 50% higher than a year earlier.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
May 27, 2021
Business, Logistics

Shipping Container Rates Top $10,000 From Asia to Europe

The cost to move goods in a shipping container to Europe from Asia shot above $10,000 for the first time on record, an index showed, underscoring the pain inflicted on exporters and importers struggling with stretched supply chains.

Brendan Murray | Bloomberg News
May 27, 2021
Government, Business, Safety

Carriers Continue to Raise Wages Amid Driver Shortage

Trucking companies are continuing to increase driver pay as labor capacity remains a challenge amid strong demand.

Connor D. Wolf | Staff Reporter
May 27, 2021