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, Safety

Rail, Intermodal Traffic Fall for Week

Rail and intermodal traffic fell for the week ended Saturday from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.

February 6, 2009
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety, Logistics

Descartes Buys Oceanwide’s Logistics Business

Descartes Systems Group said Thursday it acquired the logistics business of privately held Oceanwide Inc., in an all-cash transaction of about C$10.4 million ($8.4 million).

February 6, 2009
Business

Sysco Corp.’s 2Q Income Declines

Food-services provider and private fleet operator Sysco Corp. said its fiscal second-quarter operating income fell to $422 million, or 40 cents a share, from $449 million, or 43 cents, a year ago.

February 6, 2009
Business, Fuel

Freight Market Decline Continues

Your newspaper this week shows just how difficult things are for carriers these days, as freight rates and volumes continue to nose dive while shippers push for lower fuel surcharges and better deals.

February 6, 2009
Business

Hub Group’s Fourth-Quarter Profit Declines

Intermodal firm Hub Group Inc.’s fourth-quarter net income fell 20% to $14.2 million, or 38 cents a share, from $18 million, or 47 cents, a year ago.

February 5, 2009
Government, Business

J.B. Hunt Boosting Dividend

J.B. Hunt Transport Services said Thursday its board approved increasing its quarterly cash dividend by a penny, to 11 cents per share.

February 5, 2009
Government, Business, Safety

Postal Services Reports $384 Million Loss

The U.S. Postal Service lost $384 million its first quarter, it said Wednesday.

February 5, 2009
Business, Safety, Government

DOT ‘TIGER’ Team to Coordinate Role in Recovery Plan

The Department of Transportation has created a team to coordinate its role in President Obama’s economic recovery program, to ensure that funding is made available quickly for transportation infrastructure projects and that project spending is monitored and transparent.

February 5, 2009
Business

Wal-Mart’s January Sales Rise

Wal-Mart Stores said Thursday its same-store sales rose 2.1% in January, besting analysts’ and the company’s forecasts, the Associated Press reported.

February 5, 2009
Government, Business, Safety

Fourth-Quarter Productivity Rises 3.2%

Fourth-quarter U.S. worker productivity increased at a 3.2% annual rate, the Labor Department said Thursday.

February 5, 2009