The underlying strategies that strengthened railroads’ bottom lines have caused friction with customers, regulators and particularly workers — giving rise to a contract dispute that threatened a nationwide shutdown of the railway system.

The negotiations between dockworkers and employers are at a virtual standstill, with the sides locked down by local concerns and unable to move to contentious wage and automation issues.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta on Sept. 14 announced the antitrust suit challenging Amazon merchant agreements that bar sellers from offering lower prices on other sites and impose stiff penalties if they do.

The delivery giant’s shares fell on Sept. 16 in the biggest one-day percentage drop since FedEx went public in 1978. 

The CEO’s pessimism came after FedEx missed estimates on revenue and earnings in its first quarter. The company also withdrew its full year guidance.

Diesel futures in New York are trading in the widest backwardation for this time of year in data going back to 2008, meaning the product in storage is losing value each day.

The transaction was approved by USA Truck’s stockholders at a special meeting of stockholders held on Sept. 12. 

The deal announced before dawn on the morning of Sept. 15 came less than 24 hours before a deadline Sept. 16 that could have led to a shutdown of rail operations across the U.S.

California is suing the e-commerce giant over practices the state says inflate prices, stifle competition and violate antitrust laws. 

The Pittsburgh-based producer said demand has dropped across most of its markets amid persistent supply-chain problems and higher costs for raw materials and energy in Europe.