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

Bill Would Let States Collect Online Sales Tax

A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to allow states to collect sales taxes on online purchases, potential revenue that at least two states have directed to roads.

Michele Fuetsch | Staff Reporter
March 12, 2015

QuickBooks for Trucking: Connecting QuickBooks to Your TMS

Learn how Truckbase connects QuickBooks for trucking and your TMS to help you marry your trucking-specific data in your TMS with your financial data in QuickBooks.

Government, Business, Fuel

ARTBA Says Raise Fuel Tax 15 Cents, Give Taxpayers Rebates

The nation’s road builders have proposed that Congress hike the federal diesel and gasoline tax 15 cents a gallon and offset the cost for low- and middle-income people with tax rebates.

Michele Fuetsch | Staff Reporter
March 12, 2015
Business, Fuel

Trains Carrying Crude in Canada to Face Tougher Safety Standards

Canada is strengthening proposed new safety standards for rail cars carrying crude oil, requiring thicker steel and other improvements after a 2013 derailment killed 47 people.

Josh Wingrove | Bloomberg News
March 12, 2015
Business

Retail Sales Fall for Third Straight Month

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly decreased in February for a third consecutive month as inclement weather and low wage gains restrained shoppers.

Shobhana Chandra | Bloomberg News
March 12, 2015
Business

Jobless Claims Decline by 36,000 Last Week

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits declined more than forecast last week, returning to a level that’s consistent with an improving labor market.

Nina Glinski | Bloomberg News
March 12, 2015
Business

DOT Freight Transportation Index Rises 5.6%

The Department of Transportation’s freight transportation services index rose 5.6% in January from the same month in 2014, DOT said March 11.

March 12, 2015
Business

Cass Freight Index Rises Less Than 1% in February

The Cass Freight Index, a measure of shipping activity in trucking and other transportation modes, increased in February and expenditures also rose, Cass Information Systems said.

March 11, 2015
Government, Business, Safety, Fuel, Autonomous

Science Group Urges Strong Greenhouse Gas Rule

The Union of Concerned Scientists wants two federal agencies to set a rigorous standard for improvement in their rule on greenhouse gas emissions by heavy- and medium-duty trucks, which is due by the end of March.

Jonathan S. Reiskin | Associate News Editor
March 11, 2015
Business, Logistics

Intermodal Traffic Rises for First Time in Four Weeks

U.S. rail intermodal traffic rose for the first time in four weeks, rising 4% in the week ended March 7 compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.

March 11, 2015
Business

Seat Belt Tickets Peak in Summer, Vigillo Says

Citations for failure to use seat belts have a seasonal component — peaking in the summer and falling in the winter — according to a report from data analysis company Vigillo.

Jonathan S. Reiskin | Associate News Editor
March 11, 2015