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

Gasoline Gains 7.85¢ in Two Weeks to $3.84 a Gallon, Lundberg Survey Reports

Gasoline rose 7.85 cents in the past two weeks to $3.84 a gallon, analyst Trilby Lundberg reported in the latest Lundberg Survey of filling stations released Sunday.

September 10, 2012

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.

Business

Icahn Urges Navistar Board to Let Shareholders Appoint Board Members

Carl Icahn, billionaire investor, is asking Navistar International to let shareholders appoint at least four board members, so that stockholders can have more of a say in the decision-making process, the Associated Press reported.

September 10, 2012
Business, Fuel

Survey Finds Growing Interest Among Carriers for NG Tractors

A new survey found 51.4% of carriers are considering natural gas-fueled trucks when buying new vehicles, according to Transport Capital Partners and ACT Research.

September 10, 2012
Business, Technology

iTECH: Striking Freight Deals Online

Developers of Web-based, transactional freight exchanges believe their services can shepherd in an era of one-stop shopping for moving cargo, where deals are made without so much as a phone call.

September 10, 2012
Business

Democrats, Republicans Each Claim Credit for Highway Law in Official Party Platforms

During their recent presidential nominating conventions, Republicans and Democrats both took credit in their official party platforms for the two-year transportation reauthorization bill passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in July.

September 10, 2012
Editorial, Government, Business

Editorial: Bickering Yields Sour Fruit

The political bickering that has engulfed much of the federal government over the past months and months is apparently weighing heavily on the nation’s economy.

September 10, 2012
Letters to the Editor, Business

Letters: Heat Waves & Tires, Transportation’s Vote

The Aug. 6 issue of Transport Topics had an article headlined “Heat Wave Causing More Tire Failures, Adds Strain on Drivers, Fleet Execs Say” (p. 6). If there ever was a reason to maintain proper air pressure in tires, whether they are retreads or virgin tires — because there is no difference — it is hot weather.

September 10, 2012
Business, Technology

Qualcomm Updates Trailer-Tracking Product

Qualcomm Inc. has released a new edition of Trailer Tracks 210, which now includes a solar charging system designed to preserve uptime and battery life, the company announced Sept. 5.

September 10, 2012
Business, Logistics

Report Questions Military Logistics Contract, Says DOD Has Failed to Monitor Program

A new report has raised questions about whether a Department of Defense contract to outsource freight shipments has produced huge savings claimed by Menlo Worldwide Logistics, in large part because of DOD’s failure to scrutinize the program closely.

September 10, 2012
Business, Logistics

Intermodal Group Continues Making Plans for Motor Carrier-Based Chassis Pool

Efforts to create a motor carrier-based pool to provide intermodal chassis are continuing, though American Trucking Associations’ Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference said it has not yet decided how to accomplish that goal.

September 10, 2012