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.

BusinessAutonomous

UAW Begins Strike at Volvo’s Va. Truck Plant

Volvo Trucks North America said Friday it failed to reach agreement with the United Auto Workers union on a labor contract that expired Thursday, and about 2,600 UAW members at its manufacturing plant in Virginia went on strike there Friday.

February 1, 2008
BusinessEquipment

Cummins’ Profit Rises in Fourth Quarter

Diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. said Friday its fourth-quarter profit rose to $198 million, or $1 a share, from $189 million or 94 cents, a year ago.

February 1, 2008
GovernmentBusiness

Construction Spending Falls 1.1%

Construction spending fell 1.1% December, the Commerce Department said Friday.

February 1, 2008
BusinessSafetyGovernment

ISM Factory Index Shows Expansion in January

The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index moved into positive territory and showed expansion in January, ISM said Friday.

February 1, 2008
BusinessGovernment

Opinion: Reality-Based Carrier Pricing and Driver Pay

Events in the year just ended could foreshadow changes in the way trucking is priced. While some developments involved new trucking technology, others have resulted from legal, legislative and regulatory developments.

February 1, 2008
BusinessGovernment

Consumer Sentiment Improves in January

U.S. consumer confidence rose in January, according to the University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

February 1, 2008
BusinessGovernmentAutonomous

Panel Recommends NYC Congestion-Fee Plan

The commission in charge of creating congestion-fee plan for New York City voted Thursday to approve a scaled-down version of an original proposal, but the plan would still charge cars and most trucks fees to enter the central part of Manhattan, the Associated Press reported.

February 1, 2008
BusinessTechnologyEquipmentSafety

Ryder’s Fourth-Quarter Income Improves

Ryder System said Friday its fourth-quarter profit rose 9.3%, as its contract business improved.

February 1, 2008
Business

Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.9%; Payrolls Decline

The U.S. unemployment rate dipped to 4.9% in January from 5% in December, though payrolls declined, the Labor Department said Friday.

February 1, 2008
BusinessSafety

Rail, Intermodal Fall for Week

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

February 1, 2008