Autonomous

Little wonder that fuel efficiency was a major focus of equipment and service vendors exhibiting at the Mid-America Trucking Show last week.

Volvo Trucks North America said Friday it failed to reach agreement with the United Auto Workers union on a labor contract that expired Thursday, and about 2,600 UAW members at its manufacturing plant in Virginia went on strike there Friday.

The commission in charge of creating congestion-fee plan for New York City voted Thursday to approve a scaled-down version of an original proposal, but the plan would still charge cars and most trucks fees to enter the central part of Manhattan, the Associated Press reported.

A judge in North Carolina recently ruled in favor of a trucking company that sued the state for what it said were excessive fines assessed for minor weight limit permit violations.

Trucking components maker ArvinMeritor Inc. Tuesday reported a $12 million, or 17 cents a share for its fiscal first quarter, compared with a profit of $7 million, or 10 cents a share, in the previous first quarter.

Corporate Express US said Monday it is now fueling the majority of its 45-truck delivery fleets in Colorado and Kansas with a 20% blend of biodiesel fuel.

Drivers around the country will see big hikes in toll fees this year for roads, bridges and tunnels, USA Today reported Monday.

Florida officials are banning trucks from the left lane of a 40-mile stretch of the Florida Turnpike in South Florida starting Friday, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

Heavy-duty vehicle parts manufacturer Eaton Corp. said Tuesday its fourth-quarter net earnings rose 8%, and the company boosted its dividend too.

WASHINGTON — In a controversial report calling for huge new spending on the national transportation system, a congressional commission last week made several recommendations that would affect trucking, including new flexibility in the federal driver hours-of-service rule in congestion-prone areas.