Shippers and carriers sometimes might disagree on fair rates, settlement schedules or detention charges. But there is one freight-hauling technique that wins kudos from both sides: drop and hook. It sounds easy — and it can be — if the timing is right, experts said.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Strick Trailers will begin offering trailers that it has loaded with features that comply with Phase 2 greenhouse gas mandates intended to make trailers more fuel-efficient.

The U.S. average retail price of diesel dropped 4 cents to $2.524 a gallon, while crude oil prices remained below $47 a barrel.

Orders for Class 8 vehicles in May cleared 16,000 to improve 18% year-over-year amid expectations that demand will continue at replacement level, or slightly higher, analysts said.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Ideas for how trailer designs could evolve to address growth in final-mile deliveries compelled by e-commerce were a topic of discussion at Strick Group’s 2017 Trailer Symposium and Open House here.

U.S. retail sales of Class 8 trucks in April fell 16.8% to about 14,000 as soft freight rates and plentiful used trucks with weak valuations held demand in check, experts said.

U.S. trailer orders in April rose 19% in what analysts said was an extended growth cycle that shows no signs of reversing.

U.S. orders for trailers in April were about 20,000 and posted strong year-over-year gains, analysts said.