General Motors announced the creation of two products using fuel cell technology that could eliminate harmful emissions from diesel engines and decrease consumer dependency on energy grids.

In the first votes on major energy legislation reform in nearly a decade, the U.S. House approved President Bush’s broad energy plan after turning back amendments that would have toughened automotive fuel economy standards and prevented drilling in an Alaskan wildlife refuge.

The National Academy of Sciences has admitted changing a report on vehicle fuel economy in favor of the auto industry, possibly influenced by large auto manufacturers, who responded to a copy that was recently leaked, news services reported.

A CSX train fire in a Baltimore tunnel has not only disrupted East Coast freight traffic for two days and counting, it has destroyed fiber optic cables running through the tunnel, disrupting communications across the country.

Two economic reports released Wednesday are encouraging for the trucking industry, as the consumer price index slows its increase and housing construction continues to grow.

May business inventories remained steady while sales increased, according to the Commerce Department, continuing the line of mixed economic signals.

New York has become the first state to pass legislation prohibiting the use of handheld cellular telephones while driving, and Gov. George Pataki is expected to sign the bill by the end of the week, news services reported.