Economy

Buy Churchill real estate!

WINNIPEG -- Who'll need reefer units anymore?

Contrans acquires increased revenue

WOODSTOCK -- Contrans Income Fund improved its third quarter revenues in 2007 by $7.7 million over the company's third quarter results in 2006.

Action needed on dollar, borders to revive economy: OTA

TORONTO -- The appreciation in the value of the loonie, combined with slowing U.S. economic activity and the resultant impact on Ontario's manufacturing and export-based economy will continue to drag down on freight volumes

Manufacturing numbers continue to slide

OTTAWA -- Canadian manufacturing sales declined 0.9% in September, continuing a weakening trend observed during the past six months.

The bulls have left the building: Freight analyst

NEW YORK -- There are fewer optimists left who believe class 8 sales will pick up significantly anytime soon, notes the transportation research arm of Wall Street market analysts Bear Stearns.

BREAKING NEWS: NY private equity buys Consolidated Fastfrate

NEW YORK -- The majority interest of LTL intermodal carrier Consolidated Fastfrate and its affiliates Canada Drayage Inc. and Koch Transport have been acquired by Fenway Partners, a N.Y private equity firm.

Longtime NB dealer switches teams

SAINT JOHN -- Bayview Trucks and Equipment, formerly known as a prominent International dealer in New Brunswick, has announced it will now sell Kenworth trucks out of its four locations in Saint John, Fredericton, Sussex, and St. Stephen.

Irving dynasty on the verge of splitting companies: Globe report

SAINT JOHN -- New Brunswick's powerful Irving family, which owns dozens of companies in Canada -- including a handful of trucking fleets -- may be mulling a breakup of all their assets, reports the Globe & Mail.

People make the difference in small business

MISSISSAUGA -- Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses are putting a premium on people and are planning to use the resource to bolster business in the coming year.

Households spending a bit more these holidays: Conference Board

WASHINGTON -- The pre-Christmas peak shipping season still isn't what it used to be south of the border, but American households are on pace to spend an average of $471 on gifts during the holiday season, slightly up from last year's estimate of $449, the US Conference Board reports.

TransForce buys Quebec rival

MONTREAL -- TransForce Income Fund continues to expand its scale in its home province of Quebec.

Volvo opens software platform to other parties

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Through a new software standard called AUTOSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture), the Volvo Group will open up for new software suppliers.

Dana climbing out of bankruptcy hole

TOLEDO -- Nearly two years after filing for Chapter 11, truck and car parts maker Dana Corp. announced it has obtained fully underwritten commitments for a $2 billion exit financing

Petes rank at top of MD customer satisfaction survey

DENTON, Tex. -- Peterbilt ranks highest in customer satisfaction among conventional cab medium-duty trucks

Truck freight still strong over next decade: ATA forecast

WASHINGTON -- Despite depressed highway freight volumes in the last couple years, the American Trucking Associations predicts that trucking will increase its share of the freight pool and continue to dominate domestic US freight movement into the next decade.