SAN ANTONIO — They came for a share of $280,000 in cash and prizes and to compete and celebrate like family. In all, 232 technicians, and truck and parts sales personnel selected from across Rush Enterprises’ national network, vied in skills tests to prove they were the champions of what they do for the truck dealership.

Trillium announced it has completed its first solar installation at the Love’s Travel Stop in Santa Nella, Calif., that is expected to offset 53% of the travel stop’s energy consumption and support an electric vehicle charging station there.

Developers of aerodynamic and other equipment that helps fleets curtail fuel use in diesel-powered trucks say they see similar opportunities with electrified vehicles.

Digital freight brokers Convoy and Uber Freight have separately launched new tools intended to make pricing options for hauling loads more transparent for shippers.

The average price for a used Class 8 truck in October rose 11% year-over-year to $45,378 as buyers pushed sales 9% higher despite inventory levels that remained tight, ACT Research Co. reported.

Ryder System Inc. announced it is buying 900 Class 5 electric vehicles from truck maker Chanje Energy Inc., and that FedEx Corp. will lease the vehicles from Ryder and buy 100 of the same all-electric trucks itself.

Volvo Trucks announced it has signed a “landmark” agreement in Norway with mining company Bronnoy Kalk AS that calls for the truck maker to haul commercial loads of quarried limestone across mine property using six fully autonomous heavy-duty trucks.

The U.S. average retail price of diesel dropped 3.5 cents to $3.282 a gallon in data reported Nov. 19 as crude oil prices fell amid persistent concerns about oversupply.

Proposals by a growing number of regulators and advocacy groups would have the trucking industry assume a larger role in advancing efforts to continue cleaning up the environment.

Five container-shipping companies intend to create a nonprofit association focused on the digitalization and standardization of information used in the industry.