Business

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court last week heard arguments in a case that could cost some states millions of dollars in lost fuel-tax revenue and allow railroads to pay less for fuel than truckers.

Highway funding advocacy groups issued reports last week on the need for greater investment, laying the groundwork for an effort to persuade Congress to pass a long-term bill next year.

Longtime trucking industry figure Mike Pennington passed away suddenly Dec. 5. He was 64.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has rescinded a requirement that commercial drivers file inspection reports when there are not any vehicle defects or deficiencies.

Ron Konezny, head of Trimble Navigation’s global transportation and logistics division, said he is leaving to become CEO of Digi International Inc.

A shortage of locomotives to power intermodal and other rail freight is looming because of restrictions on future production and current constraints stemming from carrier delays, industry experts said.

Labor talks at West Coast ports dragged into their eighth month last week, with continued reports of cargo slowdowns, freight diversions and officials pleading for a tentative agreement.

UTi Worldwide Inc. last week reported a quarterly loss that more than tripled to $34 million, or 35 cents per share, in the wake of the abrupt departure of CEO Eric Kirchner and acquisition talks that were canceled.

The U.S. diesel average price dropped 7 cents last week, to $3.535 a gallon, and the Department of Energy said prices should fall below $3 next spring for the first time since 2010.

House Democratic opposition to relaxing a key financial measure was holding up passage of a $1 trillion omnibus funding bill that includes a suspension of the hours-of-service restart provision as Transport Topics went to press.