Trucking Suppliers, Carrier See Economic Improvements

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img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>Two major trucking suppliers and a leading carrier said they are seeing improvements in their segments of the industry, citing in separate reports increased freight volumes, remarketing opportunities for used trailers and a growing acceptance of the reliability of new diesel engines.

The experiences of those companies were on the brighter side of a recent mixture of economic news.

Reports from last week included new data on falling truck tonnage and factory orders in August, expressions of impatience with the economy from executives at Roadway Corp. and ArvinMeritor Inc., and predictions for solid growth at least through 2004 from economists gathering at a trucking equipment convention outside of Detroit.

However, optimism is returning to some in trucking even as higher fuel prices appear to be routine, said Kenworth Truck Co. General Manager Bob Christensen. Kenworth is a subsidiary of the nation’s second-largest truck maker, Paccar Inc.

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