New Department of Labor rule adds overtime pay for some salary workers

The U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule on Tuesday that will revise regulations issued under the Fair Labor Standards Act to ensure overtime pay for some salaried and highly compensated employees. Critics say the rule could prove a significant burden for brokers operating small businesses. Starting July 1, 2024, salaried employees making less…

Pam sets Dutch auction to buy back shares; battered stock price soars

Pam Transportation, the auto industry-focused truckload carrier whose stock has been battered in the past year and beyond, is buying back some of its shares through a process known as a Dutch auction.  Companies buy back their stock frequently but generally do so in a lower-key manner, entering the market as an occasional or frequent…

Gulf Coast ports report cargo volume surge in March

Container cargo flows increased at ports in Houston, New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, in March, but shipments of crude oil fell slightly at the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas. Port Houston container shipments up 20% in March Port Houston handled 360,991 twenty-foot equivalent units in March, a 20% year-over-year (y/y) increase. Officials said total cargo…

Starting an American dream from scratch – Taking the Hire Road

Stefan Trifan, president of APL Cargo, sat down with Taking the Hire Road host Jeremy Reymer to share his story of immigrating to the U.S. from Moldova and fulfilling the American dream.  With no experience in the industry, Trifan acquired his CDL and started a trucking company. With just one truck, Trifan grew APL Cargo…

Federal suit alleges AI system injured Union Pacific employee

A Wyoming locomotive engineer is suing Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) in federal court, alleging he was injured when an AI computer software system caused two locomotives on the train on which he was working to move at conflicting speeds.  Andrew Kirol was injured in May 2021 when the AI software gave “incorrect, inconsistent, contradictory and…