Business

The U.S. Department of Transportation moved forward on writing rules that may mandate automakers’ use of talking-car technology, saying more than a thousand lives a year might be saved on the nation’s roadways.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S raised its full-year profit forecast after the company’s container-shipping line, the world’s largest, said earnings are rising because of higher freight volumes and lower costs.

Housing starts surged in July to the highest level in eight months, underscoring the recent pickup in builder optimism and showing more traction in the residential real estate market.

The cost of living in the U.S. climbed in July at the slowest pace in five months, indicating price pressures remain limited even as the economy picks up.

Celadon Trucking Services has purchased 1,500 tractors, a mix of Kenworth T680s and LoneStar and ProStars from International.

WebTech Wireless, a supplier of GPS location-based and fleet-telematics services, reported a second-quarter loss of C$1.6 million compared with a profit of C$966,000 a year earlier.

Rand McNally released a Web-based navigation tool that allows fleet managers to remotely control and customize routes taken by their drivers.

Melton Truck Lines is increasing driver pay by 2 cents per mile and will start student driver pay at 37 cents and the most experienced drivers 50 cents.

A Con-way Freight driver from Plover, Wisconsin, Jeffrey Langenhahn, won the Bendix 2014 grand championship at the National Truck Driving Championships Aug. 16.