Trucking Business News

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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.

BusinessLogistics

More Universities Seek Industry Sponsors to Finance Transport Research, Experts Say

With federal funding of transportation research facing political and budgetary pressures, many schools and research institutions are turning to industry to support research ranging from alternative fuels to electronic networks that connect vehicles and roadway infrastructure in ways that could lead to fewer and less severe crashes, according to industry experts and academic sources.

October 1, 2012
Business

J.R. ‘Bob’ Halladay Dies; Longtime Trucking Leader

J.R. “Bob” Halladay, a longtime trucking leader who formerly served as senior vice president for federation relations for American Trucking Associations, died last week at the age of 91 after complications from a stroke and Parkinson’s disease.

October 1, 2012
Business

Hebe Defends Navistar’s Decision on EGR

TOOELE, Utah — Navistar’s choice of exhaust gas recirculation over selective catalytic reduction to comply with U.S. emissions rules failed not because of the technology, but because the company had no partners in the effort, said Jim Hebe, Navistar’s senior vice president for North America Sales Operations.

October 1, 2012
Business

DOT Needs Greater Oversight of TIGER Program, IG Says

Stronger oversight and better assessments are needed to determine if the TIGER grant program is producing its expected benefits, a report from the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General said.

October 1, 2012
BusinessTechnology

TMW Tailoring Its Software Offerings to Meet Evolving Needs of Customers

ORLANDO, Fla. — TMW Systems Inc. is expanding the capabilities of its transportation management software to the evolving needs of today’s transportation providers, CEO David Wangler said.

October 1, 2012
Business

August Truck Tonnage Rises 3.2%

U.S. truck tonnage rose a modest 3.2% in August from a year earlier, the second-slowest gain of the year, as a weakening economy dragged down freight activity, American Trucking Associations reported last week.

October 1, 2012
GovernmentBusiness

Restart Changes ‘Reasonable,’ FMCSA Says in HOS Court Brief

The federal government defended its latest hours-of-service rule last week, telling a U.S. court that it “acted at the height of its expertise and discretion” when it decided in December to put new restrictions on the 34-hour restart provision, while retaining the 11-hour driving day.

October 1, 2012
Business

UPS, Teamsters Begin Talks on New Labor Contract

UPS Inc. last week began contract talks with the Teamsters union, while the company awaited additional developments in its planned $6.7 billion purchase of TNT Express N.V., its largest-ever planned acquisition.

October 1, 2012
BusinessFuel

Diesel Declines for First Time in 12 Weeks

Retail diesel fuel prices declined 4.9 cents to $4.086 a gallon last week, the first price drop in 12 weeks, as U.S. demand weakened, according to the Department of Energy.

October 1, 2012
BusinessLogistics

Intermodal Traffic Gains 0.7% for Week

U.S. intermodal traffic rose 0.7% last week over the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported.

September 28, 2012