Autonomous

Trucking company failures declined to 370 during the second quarter, plunging 61.9% from the 970 recorded a year earlier, despite the economic turmoil that has sent fleet profits reeling. But the stock analyst who prepared the data warned that the bankruptcy improvement wasn’t a sign of better times.

Navistar Inc. closed its sole heavy-duty truck plant in North America outside Mexico when the union contract expired and said it would reopen the factory in Chatham, Ontario, only if a new agreement was reached that gave it “flexibility” over production and allowed Navistar to run a “much smaller operation.”

Transport Topics Online will be closed on Monday, July 5, for the Independence Day holiday. Please check back on Tuesday, July 6, for the latest trucking and freight transportation news.

Truck stop chain TravelCenters of America said Monday it lost $41.2 million, or $2.39 per share, in the first quarter, up from a loss of $18 million, or $1.08, a year ago.

It’s wise not to get too giddy, but it definitely appears things are improving for the economy — and for trucking.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Truck and engine makers took advantage of one of the last major marketing forums before the onset of new federal emission rules to starkly set the stage for buyers of heavy-duty vehicles in choosing between SCR and EGR for their diesel engines.

Trucking suffered the greatest loss of jobs in history during January, excluding the month of the national drivers’ strike in 1994.

The Maryland Transportation Authority has approved increased truck tolls its seven toll facilities, the Associated Press reported.

Class 8 trucks rolled up 139.3 billion miles in 2006, up from 130.5 billion in 2005, according to American Trucking Associations’ American Trucking Trends 2008-2009 report, released this week.

Truck and engine maker Navistar Inc. said it will take a “leadership role” in trying to convince Congress and the new administration to delay full implementation of 2010 heavy-duty truck engine emission mandates.