Delta Air Lines will now become the first major airline to start charging a $15 fee for the first checked in bag. Beginning December 5th, it will start charging $15 for the first checked in bag and $25 for the second checked in bag. Delta also eliminated its fuel surcharges that it charged frequent travelers in response to rising fuel prices.

The United Parcel Service, in partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency, will begin testing of a new fleet of hybrid delivery trucks. The new vehicles can achieve between 50 and 70 percent better fuel economy, and the extra expense is expected to paid for within three years.

The United Parcel Service reported on Friday that it plans to raise its prices next year. The company is planning to increase its rates on ground shipping by 5.9 percent as well as its rates on air shipments by 4.9 percent. The new rates will go into effect on January 5th, 2009.

Delta Air Lines announced Thursday that it is planning to raise its fee for checking in a second bag to $50 as the airline continues to struggle against higher fuel prices. Delta did not join other airlines this summer in charging a fee for the first bag; however, it is continuing to increase its fees for additional bags. It also increasing its fee for the third carry on to $125 from $80.

Delta Airlines reported Friday that it would the first major airline to add fuel surcharges to passenger tickets purchased through using frequent flier miles. The move comes as the airline industry continues to coop with rising fuel costs.

Continental Airlines announced Friday that it will need to cut 3,000 jobs and ground its 67 Boeing aircraft. As airliners cope with rising fuel costs, they have had to take drastic measures in order to maintain profitability.

Union Pacific has officially approved to buy back 20 million shares by March 31, 2011. This buyback is in addition to the 20 million previously authorized in January 2007. Since the last buyback the railroad company has already repurchased over 16 million shares.

The board of Delta Air Lines is scheduled to meet this Wednesday to discuss a possible merger with Northwest Airlines. If the deal goes through it would create the largest airline in the world with 79,000 combined employees.

It is very unlikely that DHL will sell off its entire U.S. shipping division. However, in an attempt to cut losses, DHL may start looking to sell off parts of its shipping business in the U.S. Although, due to its current lead Fedex doesn't really need DHL's U.S. shipping business, a deal between DHL and FedEx would allow FedEx to quickly gain more market share here in the U.S.

FedEx is planning on raising their rates on ground shipping by 4.9 percent due to continual rises in oil prices and lower freight demands. The move echos recently announced pricing plans by competitors United Parcel Service and DHL Express.

US Airways has entered a $6 million dollar contract with AT&T to provide wireless phone service to business travelers. Under the two-year contract, AT&T will provide wireless services to complement US Airways existing network infrastucure used to run its operations and call centers. The deal also includes hand held bar-code scanners used to provide real time tracking for the companies global shipping... More

FedEx lowered their forward guidance after surging fuel prices and an overall weakness in the freight industry. FedEx now expects to earn $1.45 to $1.55 a share for the second quarer, down 15 cents from their previous guidance and much lower then the markets expectations.

Union Pacific reported that they are going to be giving out a quarterly dividend of 35 cents a share to shareholders.

Carl R. Ice, filled out the mandatory Form 4 with the SEC for exercising options for 38,331 shares of common stock. He then immediately sold all of them the same day.

Southwest Airlines reported that their traffic was up 11.4% in June, and that they had capacity grew by 9%.