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Overnite Transportation Co. has won a court victory in its long-running battle with the Teamsters as a federal appeals court overturned a National Labor Relations Board decision forcing the less-than-truckload carrier to bargain with union representatives in Miami.

John N. Raudabaugh, a former member of the National Labor Relations Board and now one of its most virulent critics, blasted the board for recent decisions that he contends deprive management and employees of free choice.

The range of triple-trailer trucks may be limited by political boundaries and selected highways but the productivity payoff makes them hard to ignore, according to those who operate the most articulated of all combination vehicles.

The Transport Topics Management Outlook Forum 2001 is coming up and you can participate by submitting questions to our panel of industry experts.

In the news this morning: Diesel prices rise ationally; Canada's Chretien reelected; E-Stamp abandons electronic postage for shipping and logistics software; and more.

This afternoon's headlines: Volvo seeks more than market value for Scania stake; Dana to sell its European replacement-parts subsidiary; oil prices drop after Iraq denies rumors of production cuts; and more.

Today's technology headlines: SBC, Cisco to bundle gear, services to corporate customers; UPS, FedEx brace for e-commerce; Caterpillar subsidiary revs up its e-business plan for aftermarket parts; and more.

Investment analysts say labor relations issues with the Teamsters union were a significant factor in the FedEx deal to buy American Freightways and operate it with Viking Freight as a nationwide less-than-truckload carrier.

The plunge in heavy truck sales continued in October, with total sales of 14,440 down 37.1% from the 22,945 sold in October 1999.

Automation does not necessarily mean fewer jobs, said the head of a company selling software designed to shortcut scores of steps in the way third-party logistical companies do business.