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.

Business, Fuel

Gasoline Jumps 11.2¢ on Refinery Outages, Lundberg Reports

Gasoline jumped 11.2 cents in the past two weeks to $3.66 a gallon, as refineries in the Midwest and West Coast regions experienced outages, according to the latest Lundberg Survey of filling stations released Sunday.

May 20, 2013

Daily Briefings from Transport Topics

Transport Topics has partnered with Spoken Layer to make one-minute daily briefings available on all your smart devices. Simply say “Alexa, play Transport Topics” or “Okay Google, talk to Transport Topics” to get the day’s biggest trucking headlines.

Perspective, Business

Opinion: It’s Not Too Late to Fight the Broker Bond

In today’s America, money wins out over sound judgment, and politics are used by powerful lobbies to secure laws and regulations favorable to them and their interests.   Take, for example, the $75,000 property broker bond, commonly referred to as the “freight broker” bond.

May 20, 2013
Business

I-40 Reopens in Okla. Following Weekend Tornadoes

Interstate 40 reopened in Oklahoma Monday after damage from weekend tornadoes, including to several big rigs, closed I-40 near Shawnee, Okla., the Associated Press reported.

May 20, 2013
Business

Truck Sales Decline 7.4%, But OEMs Project End to Slump

U.S. retail heavy-duty truck sales declined by 7.4% in April, the eighth straight month of year-over-year contraction, WardsAuto.com reported.

May 20, 2013
Business

Toll Interoperability Sought as Electronic Systems Grow

The nation’s large and growing number of highways, bridges and tunnels that are using electronic systems to collect tolls are creating problems for truckers who cross multiple jurisdictions because most systems’ transponders won’t work on other systems.

May 20, 2013
Business, Government, Safety

Report Questions Effectiveness of TWIC After Biometric Card Readers Fail Tests

The Transportation Security Administration’s $23 million pilot test of Transportation Worker Identification Credential biometric card readers at 17 sites failed to prove that the technology actually works as intended, according to a new government report.

May 20, 2013
Business, Technology

Carriers Reaping Efficiency, Safety Benefits on Greater Tech Integration, Executives Say

PRINCETON, N.J. — Deeper integration of navigation software with in-cab communications devices and back-office programs is driving efficiency and safety improvements for carriers, trucking and technology executives said.

May 20, 2013
Business

Haslam ‘Absolutely Not Aware’ of Fleet Fuel Rebate Scheme

INDIANAPOLIS — Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam said he was “absolutely not aware” of any alleged scheme by employees to underpay customers of a fuel rebate program that is now the subject of a federal criminal investigation.

May 20, 2013
Government, Business

Bills Aim to Raise Infrastructure Funding by Lowering Taxes on Overseas Profits

A Republican senator and a Democratic representative are each proposing to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure by giving tax incentives to U.S. corporations to bring overseas profits home.

May 20, 2013
Business

Mercedes Updates Sprinter Van, Aims to Boost North American Sales

DUSSELDORF, Germany — Mercedes-Benz said it is taking aim at a larger portion of the North American market with its 2014 Sprinter delivery van, featuring a new engine and safety technologies.

May 20, 2013