Business

Truckers, FMC Urge Changes to PierPass Fees

Truckers and the Federal Maritime Commission are continuing to urge operational and financial changes in the PierPass program, the fee system that governs shipments through Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, the nation’s two largest ports.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
July 25, 2016
Business

Fleet Failures Accelerate in 2Q

Fleet failures, measured in the number of trucks pulled off the road, more than doubled in the second quarter on a year-over-year basis, but the resulting reduction in capacity isn’t enough to change the sluggish freight market truckers face, a new report said.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
July 18, 2016
Business, Autonomous

Truck-Rail Freight Falls 5.5% in 2nd Quarter

Truck-rail freight in the second quarter fell by 5.5%, the largest year-over-year decline since late 2009. The fall was driven by a weak economy, a market share skirmish with over-the-road trucking and 2015 market dislocations that inflated shipments last spring, industry experts said.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
July 18, 2016
Business, Government

Campaign for Teamsters President Begins

The stage is set for the fall Teamsters union election, with incumbent James Hoffa campaigning for a five-year term and insurgent Fred Zuckerman, current president of a Kentucky local, seeking to unseat Hoffa after three terms.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
July 18, 2016
Business

Truckload 1Q Turnover Declines Due to Softer Freight Economy

Truckload turnover declined in the first quarter because a softer freight economy limited shipment volumes, reducing drivers’ opportunities to switch to a new employer, American Trucking Associations reported.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
July 11, 2016
Business, Government, Safety, Autonomous

Analysts See Weaker 2Q Earnings

A series of weak second-quarter earnings reports in the weeks ahead should document evidence that truck freight markets have suffered this year amid excess capacity and overstocked inventory, analysts believe.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
July 11, 2016
Business

New Panama Canal to Alter Global Logistics

Now that the expanded Panama Canal is open for business, changes to global shipping patterns will be far-reaching and gradual, experts said.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
July 11, 2016
Business

STB Postpones Ruling on Rail Competition Case

The Surface Transportation Board will take another month to decide whether to allow a long-standing, controversial proposal that would create new rail competition in a limited geographical area.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
July 1, 2016
Business

FedEx Raises Fiscal 4Q Profitability by 20%, Helped by Results at Express, Ground Units

Improved profits at the Express and Ground units of FedEx Corp. helped the package company raise fiscal fourth-quarter net income by 20%, excluding one-time costs. This sets the stage for continued Ground capital investment to support increased e-commerce and the initial integration of TNT N.V.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
June 27, 2016
Business

May Tonnage Climbs 5.7%

Truck tonnage climbed 5.7% on a year-over-year basis in May and also increased from April, helped by stronger consumer demand and a long-awaited drop in inventories, American Trucking Associations reported.

Rip Watson | Special to Transport Topics
June 27, 2016