U.S. Xpress enrolls 129 in college programs
U.S. Xpress, the country’s fifth largest, asset-based truckload carrier based in Chattanooga, has enrolled 129 drivers and their dependents in classes as part of its “Full Ride” program launched in 2018.
The drivers are enrolled in bachelor’s or master’s degrees from the accredited online school Ashford University. To date, 107 drivers have enrolled and 22 of their dependents.
The initiative pays tuition for drivers and their families to continue their education directly to the university so there are no upfront costs for participants. Two family members can take part in the program at one time. Dependents must be 17-26 years old, the company states.
Jaime Mount, a driver for the company, said he enrolled in the scholarship program and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in information technology.
“I’ve been wanting to go back to school for a while now to get my bachelor’s degree, and who knows, maybe even my master’s degree,” said Mount. “Thanks to the U.S. Xpress Full Ride program, I can chase that dream and one day accomplish my goal.”
Amazon closes pop-up shops
Amazon said Wednesday that it will shut down all its pop-up shops and focus on opening more of its bookstores as it rethinks its brick-and-mortar strategy.
The online retail giant has 87 pop-up shops in malls, Whole Foods grocery stores and Kohl’s department stores that sell Amazon’s Echo voice-activated devices, Kindle tablets and other gadgets.
Amazon has been making a big push into brick-and-mortar stores, buying up the Whole Foods grocery chain, opening 19 bookstores and 10 cashier-less convenience stores around the country. But sales at its physical stores slipped 3 percent in the last three months of 2018, compared with the same period the year before.
Vehicle mileage increases slightly
New vehicles in the U.S. from the 2017 model year averaged slightly better gas mileage than the previous year, rising to a record 24.9 mpg, according to an annual report from the Environmental Protection Agency.
But the mileage rose only 0.2 mpg, and environmental groups say it fell short of a 1 mpg increase required under standards enacted during the Obama administration.
To make up the difference, automakers used credits for zero emissions vehicles and other fuel-saving measures that aren’t included in EPA test cycles. The agency and the Department of Transportation say that’s evidence the industry will have trouble meeting standards as they rise through 2025.
The Trump administration has proposed freezing the standards at 2021 levels.