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.

Letters to the Editor, Business, Safety, Government

Letters: EOBRs Revisited, Hours of Service, Infrastructure

Regarding the letter with the headline “EOBRs Revisited,” there was a very interesting guest commentary about electronic onboard recorders recently in another publication, in which the author claimed only 2% of crashes occur after more than 10 hours of driving time.

February 8, 2010
Editorial, Business, Government, Safety

CSA 2010 Is a ‘Game Changer’

If it works as advertised, trucking’s new safety rating machinery will be as quick and as responsive as a sports car when compared to the old, glacial way of doing things.

February 8, 2010
Business, Safety, Government, Logistics

DOT Budget Proposes $4 Billion for New Infrastructure Bank

The Obama administration last week proposed a $4 billion “down payment” on a national infrastructure bank to supplement traditional highway funding, as part of its $78.8 billion budget proposal for the Department of Transportation.

February 8, 2010
Business, Safety, Government

Report Says Thefts Rising, But Fleets Question Data

Cargo theft increased sharply in 2009, according to an international insurer and a security firm, although two major carriers said they had experienced a drop in losses from theft and American Trucking Associations said good statistics were hard to come by.

February 8, 2010
Business, Equipment

Cummins Enjoys 4th-Quarter Boost in Engines

Two manufacturers that supply parts to international truck makers reported improved results for the fourth quarter, with engine maker Cummins Inc. increasing profits and component maker ArvinMeritor Inc. eliminating a large loss and breaking even.

February 8, 2010
Business, Government, Safety

States May Not Enforce Ban on Texting, Law Officials Say

Law enforcement officials said they may not strictly enforce the Transportation Department’s recent ban on texting by commercial drivers until the government issues a specific regulation rather than reinterpretations of current rules, officials told Transport Topics.

February 8, 2010
Business, Government, Safety, Technology, Equipment

Execs Warn on CSA 2010

SAN DIEGO — CSA 2010, the new federal safety monitoring and rating system for motor carriers, is likely to be the most important and potentially disruptive federal policy development for trucking to come out of Washington this year, fleet executives and industry watchers said last week.

February 8, 2010
Business, Government, Safety

SEC Issues Guidelines to Help Companies Assess Effects of Climate-Change Laws, Rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission for the first time has voted to issue guidelines to help public companies decide whether climate change laws and regulations will have a material effect on their businesses.

February 8, 2010
Business, Fuel, Government

UPS Posts $757 Mln. Profit as Air Shipments Increase

UPS Inc. said it benefited from a sharp increase in December air shipments out of Asia and a busy holiday season to post profits for the fourth quarter and the full year.

February 8, 2010
Business, Government, Safety

TMC Meeting Offers ‘Glimpse’ Of Technology, Fleet Guidance

Fleet maintenance professionals in Tampa, Fla., are taking in a glimpse of future trucks while discussing tips for management in the present at the Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting, through Feb. 12.

February 8, 2010