Government
Transport Topics government and regulatory coverage keeps managers of a highly-regulated industry aware of the policy decisions that can shape their businesses. Covering both the legislative and regulatory aspects of policy-making, at both the state and national levels, the news in this category includes looks at infrastructure, hours of service, emissions rules, funding measures, leadership appointments, and more. Readers can follow what’s happening in Congress, at the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, and in state and local governments.
N.Y. ‘Empire State’ Manufacturing Index Contracts Sharply
Manufacturing growth in New York state contracted this month at the fastest pace on record, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Monday.
November 17, 2008DHL to End U.S. Parcel Service After 5 Years, Nearly $10 Bln.
Deutsche Post, owner of DHL Express, said it would close the parcel carrier’s U.S. operations after an unsuccessful five-year, $10 billion attempt to crack into a $61.1 billion market dominated by UPS Inc. and FedEx Corp.
November 17, 2008Scam Artists Hit Brokers, Fleets
Logistics executive Paul Lueck, a 27-year veteran of the transportation business, thought he’d seen it all before the silver-tongued con man from what turned out to be a fictitious Jonesboro, Ark., trucking company came calling last summer.
November 17, 2008Diesel Hits 14-Month Low
The U.S. average retail diesel price dropped 14.4 cents to $2.944 a gallon last week, falling below $3 for the first time in 14 months, and is expected to drop even further next year, the U.S. Department of Energy said.
November 17, 2008Engineering Cited in Minn. Bridge Failure
Last year’s Interstate-35W highway bridge collapse in Minneapolis, the worst such accident in 25 years, was caused by an engineering flaw and the load on its deck, Bloomberg reported, citing U.S. safety investigators.
November 14, 2008SoCal Ports Delaying Clean-Trucks Fee
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., which were to have begun collecting a “clean trucks fee” Monday, said they will delay the fee collection pending resolution of outstanding regulatory issues.
November 14, 2008October Retail Sales Plunge 2.8%; Drop Is Largest on Record
Retail sales fell 2.8% in October, the biggest drop on record, the Commerce Department said Friday.
November 14, 2008Great Dane to Close Georgia Reefer Plant
Great Dane Trailers said it plans to close its refrigerated trailer manufacturing plant in Savannah, Ga., in January, due to the economic downturn’s effect on the transportation industry and the need for more efficient production.
November 14, 2008Consumer Sentiment Index Remains Near 28-Year Low
U.S. consumer confidence rose slightly but remained near a 28-year low this month, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan’s preliminary monthly consumer sentiment index, released Friday.
November 14, 2008Business Inventories Take Largest Drop in Three Years
Business inventories fell 0.2% in September, the largest decline in three years, the Commerce Department said Friday.
November 14, 2008