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, Equipment

Cummins Sees Continued Strong Growth in 2008

Diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. is on pace for a fifth consecutive year of record sales and profits in 2008 and is poised for “significant further growth over the next several years,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tim Solso told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting Tuesday.

May 13, 2008
Business, Safety, Government

Trimac’s 1Q Earnings Decline

Canada-based transportation firm Trimac Income Fund said its first-quarter net earnings fell to C$600,000, or about 2 cents per unit, from C$1.5 million, or 5 cents, a year ago.

May 13, 2008
Business, Fuel

UPS Orders 200 Hybrid, 300 New CNG Trucks

UPS Inc. said Tuesday it has ordered 200 hybrid electric vehicles for its U.S. delivery fleet, which it said was the largest commercial order of such trucks by any company.

May 13, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Fuel

Diesel Soars 18.2¢ to Record $4.331

Diesel fuel jumped 18.2 cents to a new record Monday, averaging $4.331 a gallon at the pump nationwide, the Department of Energy said.

May 13, 2008
Business, Fuel

Oil Hits Intraday Record, Near $127 a Barrel

Crude oil hit a new intraday record Tuesday near $127 a barrel, and heating oil futures also hit a record, Bloomberg reported.

May 13, 2008
Business, Government

Business Inventories Increase 0.1%

Business inventories rose 0.1% in March, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

May 13, 2008
Business

Wal-Mart’s First-Quarter Profit Jumps 6.9%

Wal-Mart Stores said Tuesday its first-quarter profit jumped 6.9% on higher sales, to $3.02 billion, or 76 cents per share, up from $2.83 billion, or 68 cents per share, a year ago.

May 13, 2008
Business, Government

Retail Sales Fall 0.2% in April

Retail sales declined 0.2% in April, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

May 13, 2008
Business

TravelCenters Reports First-Quarter Loss

Truck stop chain TravelCenters of America reported a first-quarter loss of $48.5 million, or $3.41 per share, compared with a loss of $31.7 million, or $1.09, a year ago.

May 13, 2008
Fuel, Business, Government

Import Goods Prices Rise 1.8%

The price of goods imported to the United States rose 1.8% in April, led by fuel cost increases, the Labor Department said Tuesday.

May 13, 2008