Trucking Business News

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.

Government, Business, Safety

First-Quarter Productivity Upgraded to 2.6%

First-quarter U.S. worker productivity rose 2.6% from the previous quarter, up from an earlier estimate, the Labor Department said Wednesday.

June 4, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Logistics

Opinion: A Clearinghouse for Drug and Alcohol Info

Just days after a new report recommended improvements to drug-testing programs that could better identify illegal drug users and keep them off the road, Reps. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), John Mica (R-Fla.) and Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) announced their intention to introduce legislation aimed at establishing a national clearinghouse of positive drug-test results.

June 4, 2008
Government, Business, Safety, Logistics

Canadian Provinces Nearing Accord on Speed Limiters, OTA Says

The Ontario Trucking Association said that a joint meeting this week of the Ontario and Quebec government cabinets moved them closer to accord on trucking issues such as implementing speed limiter legislation and allowing for longer combination vehicles.

June 4, 2008
Fuel, Business, Safety, Government

GM Closing Four North American Plants

General Motors Corp. is closing four North American truck and sport utility vehicle plants, in light of high fuel prices that are pushing consumers to smaller vehicles, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

June 3, 2008
Fuel, Business

Biodiesel Firm Secures $15.5 Million Investment

Three institutional investors have put $15.5 million in financing into Innovation Fuels, an Albany, N.Y., company that makes and distributes biodiesel fuel worldwide, financial firm Credit Suisse said Tuesday.

June 3, 2008
Fuel, Business, Government

Diesel Dips 1.6¢ to $4.707; Gas Gains 3.9¢ to Record $3.976

The average price of retail diesel fuel fell for the first time in a month, dipping 1.6 cents from an all-time record high to an average $4.707 a gallon, the Department of Energy said.

June 3, 2008
Business

FedEx Renaming Kinko’s as FedEx Office

FedEx Corp. said late Monday it will change the name of its office and business services unit, FedEx Kinko’s, to FedEx Office.

June 2, 2008
Business

FMCSA Awards $1 Million in CDL Education Grants

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said Monday it has awarded a total $1 million in grants to nine technical and community colleges to enhance safety curricula and behind-the-wheel training courses for students enrolled in commercial driver’s license training programs.

June 2, 2008
Government, Business, Safety

DOT Seeks Proposals to Fight Border Congestion

The Department of Transportation said Monday it is requesting proposals for innovative new approaches to reduce traffic tie-ups at some of the nation’s most congested border crossings.

June 2, 2008
Business, Equipment

Cummins Plans Layoffs at Indiana Pickup-Engine Plant

Diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. plans to temporarily lay off 125 workers from its midrange engine plant in Indiana because of declining pickup truck demand, the Associated Press reported Monday.

June 2, 2008