Click here to write a Letter to the Editor. img src="http://www.ttnews.com/images/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>U.S. retail sales of Class 8 trucks climbed 29.7% to 20,953 units in May, as replacement demand re-mained strong against a backdrop of rising prices for diesel fuel and trucks themselves.

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor. ransmission makers say their components are tougher than ever, but still depend upon the mercy of drivers and technicians to reduce the severity of any problems that crop up.

Trailer manufacturers and trailer-component suppliers were expected to display their latest products at The Truck Show Las Vegas Thursday through Saturday, along with about 300 other industry suppliers including manufacturers of tires, fuel-saving technology, electrical equipment and brakes.

Although truck manufacturers would begin selling 2007 model-year trucks at various times during 2006, they said the only trucks that would be required to use government-mandated ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel would be those sold after Dec. 31, 2006.

Owner-operator Bruce Settles drove to Louisville, Ky., in late March to visit North America’s largest truck show. He brought with him ideas for improving truck seats.

Oil filter manufacturers, whose replacement products generate some of the highest brand loyalty among truck operators, said they are making dramatic changes to manage the additional soot expected to be produced by new diesel engines coming in 2007.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has again postponed its revised heavy-duty truck stopping-distance rule, saying it needed to spend more time on a cost-benefit analysis of the proposal.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Paccar Inc.’s two truck brands are both seeking to increase market share and profits in 2005, executives of Kenworth Truck Co. and Peterbilt Motors Co. said last week.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rival independent heavy-duty engine makers Caterpillar Inc. and Cummins Inc. said last week they would continue to win sales, despite plans by some truck makers to increasingly use their own engines.

U.S. retail sales of heavy-duty trucks jumped 42.8% in February from a year earlier to 17,184, the highest total for that month since 2000.