All major North American railroads pushed through rate increases earlier this year even as freight fell the most since 2009.

XPO Logistics and Estes Express have agreed to pay a total of $13 million to settle overcharge claims in connection with the Defense Transportation Coordination initiative, a federal contract that was meant to lower logistics costs.

XPO Logistics slightly reduced its first-quarter loss, excluding one-time costs, to $9.8 million, or 8 cents per share, while earnings slipped 9% to $96.6 million, or 53 cents, as airfreight and ocean forwarding results weakened.

Expeditors International of Washington Inc. reported net income fell 9% to $96.6 million, or 53 cents per share, as air and ocean freight forwarding shipments and profitability declined.

The St. Louis Regional Freightway launched April 27 to coordinate planning and projects for the region’s freight and shipping infrastructure as well as to expand the local industrial business market on both sides of the Mississippi.

Consumer confidence fell to a seven-month low in April as Americans’ expectations about economic growth dropped to the lowest point since September 2014.

Consumer confidence retreated more than forecast in April as Americans’ optimism about the outlook for the economy and employment waned.

Norfolk Southern Corp. reported the best year-over-year improvement in first-quarter rail industry earnings, boosting net income 25% to $387 million, or $1.29 per share, helped by expense reductions and improved results for commodity groups, particularly automotive shipments.