Business
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.
Industrial Production Rises 1.3% in October
U.S. industrial production rose 1.3% in October, the Federal Reserve said Monday.
November 17, 2008N.Y. ‘Empire State’ Manufacturing Index Contracts Sharply
Manufacturing growth in New York state contracted this month at the fastest pace on record, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Monday.
November 17, 2008DHL to End U.S. Parcel Service After 5 Years, Nearly $10 Bln.
Deutsche Post, owner of DHL Express, said it would close the parcel carrier’s U.S. operations after an unsuccessful five-year, $10 billion attempt to crack into a $61.1 billion market dominated by UPS Inc. and FedEx Corp.
November 17, 2008Scam Artists Hit Brokers, Fleets
Logistics executive Paul Lueck, a 27-year veteran of the transportation business, thought he’d seen it all before the silver-tongued con man from what turned out to be a fictitious Jonesboro, Ark., trucking company came calling last summer.
November 17, 2008TT Logistics 50: Shippers, Carriers Seek Solutions to Logistics Challenges
Logistics companies face significant new challenges as both shippers and carriers look for ways to cope with financial turmoil, volatile fuel costs and slumping demand for goods and services.
November 17, 2008Diesel Hits 14-Month Low
The U.S. average retail diesel price dropped 14.4 cents to $2.944 a gallon last week, falling below $3 for the first time in 14 months, and is expected to drop even further next year, the U.S. Department of Energy said.
November 17, 2008FedEx Boosting 2009 Rates 5.9%
FedEx Corp. said Friday it will raise its 2009 ground delivery rates by an average of 5.9%, starting Jan. 5.
November 14, 2008Engineering Cited in Minn. Bridge Failure
Last year’s Interstate-35W highway bridge collapse in Minneapolis, the worst such accident in 25 years, was caused by an engineering flaw and the load on its deck, Bloomberg reported, citing U.S. safety investigators.
November 14, 2008SoCal Ports Delaying Clean-Trucks Fee
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., which were to have begun collecting a “clean trucks fee” Monday, said they will delay the fee collection pending resolution of outstanding regulatory issues.
November 14, 2008October Retail Sales Plunge 2.8%; Drop Is Largest on Record
Retail sales fell 2.8% in October, the biggest drop on record, the Commerce Department said Friday.
November 14, 2008