Trucking Companies Face Growing Cash Crunch as Shippers Struggle to Survive Downturn
Astronomic fuel prices are only part of the economic drag on trucking these days. Add the growing length of time on accounts receivables, more customer bankruptcies and the tightening of credit by suppliers and lenders, and it’s easy to see how carriers’ cash flow has ebbed.
September 15, 2008Fuel Prices Continue Downward
Fuel prices last week continued their slide from July’s record highs, as the U.S. retail average for diesel fuel dropped for an eighth straight week and gasoline for the ninth.
September 15, 2008House Follows Senate in Approving $8 Billion for Highway Fund
A day after the Senate passed a bill to fund an $8 billion shortfall in the federal Highway Trust Fund, the House followed suit, voting 376-29 to approve a similar measure.
September 12, 2008Retail Sales Fall 0.5% in August
Retail sales fell 0.5% in August, the Commerce Department said Friday.
September 12, 2008Producer Prices Drop 0.9% in August
Prices paid to U.S. producers fell 0.9% in August, the Labor Department said Friday.
September 12, 2008Business Inventories Rise More Than Forecast
Business inventories rose 1.1% in July, the Commerce Department said Friday.
September 12, 2008Import Prices Fall 3.7% in August
The price of goods imported to the United States fell 3.7% in August, led by declining oil prices, the Labor Department said Thursday.
September 11, 2008Gulf Refineries Brace for Hurricane Ike’s Landfall Near Houston
Oil refineries on the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana shut down operations Friday as Hurricane Ike prepared to come ashore overnight near Houston in what could be the biggest hurricane to hit Texas in 50 years, news services reported.
September 11, 2008Oil Falls Below $102 as Hurricane Ike Moves Toward Texas
Oil prices continued to fall toward $100 a barrel Thursday, even as Hurricane Ike strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico heading toward the Texas coast, Bloomberg reported.
September 11, 2008Letters to the Editor: Mexico Border Pilot, Driver Appreciation, Outsourcing Overseas, Slow-Pay Blues
If the Chinese are going to make all the goods, the Arabs supply all the oil and the Mexicans do all the transportation, what are we going to do? This sounds very much like the fall of the Roman Empire in past history.
September 11, 2008