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.
Obamacare Employer Mandate Eased in Bill Passed by House
The House of Representatives brushed aside President Barack Obama’s veto threat and passed a bill that would revise his 2010 health-care law to ease the requirement that employers provide insurance to their workers.
Intermodal Traffic Rises in December
U.S. rail intermodal traffic increased 3.7% in December compared with the same month the prior year, the Association of American Railroads reported.
January 9, 2015Con-way Defeats Teamsters in California Terminal Vote
Con-way Freight workers at the Bakersfield, California, terminal have voted to reject the Teamsters in the latest union representation election at the less-than-truckload carrier.
January 8, 2015Sen. Boxer Not Seeking Re-election in 2016
Sen. Barbara Boxer, who as the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, has been integral in advancing the most recent highway bills in Congress, announced she will not seek another term in office in 2016.
Nafta Trade Rises 4.9% to Record
U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico rose 4.9% in October from a year earlier to a record $108.2 billion, the Department of Transportation reported Jan. 8.
Truckers Divided on Impact of Rolled-Back HOS Regulations, Survey Shows
Less than half of truckers polled in December say the hours-of-service suspension will affect business positively, Bloomberg News reported.
January 8, 2015Consumer Credit Increases by $14.1 Billion in November
Consumer borrowing in the U.S. increased in November as an improving economy emboldened Americans to take out school and auto loans.
Senators Discuss Plausibility of Higher Fuel Taxes
Senators are talking about fuel tax increases to pay for transportation — if not actually embracing the idea.
DeFazio Predicts Congress Will Again Address Mexican Truck Issue
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said he expects Congress to weigh in on whether more Mexican trucks ought to be running longhaul in the United States now that a three-year pilot program has ended.
DOT Awards $500,000 to Assist Washington State in Fixing Rain-Damaged Roads
The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing Washington state with $500,000 to help authorities fix roads damaged by recent heavy rainfall.