Business

The nation’s pending “fiscal cliff” and uncertainty about future federal tax rates are turning up the pressure to complete trucking industry acquisitions and sales before the end of the year, according to industry experts.

Southern California port truckers returned to work last week, and began moving tens of thousands of containers trapped by the eight-day walkout by the union that represents the port’s clerks,

When trouble strikes and a truck is disabled, establishing clear lines of communication between the driver, the driver’s dispatcher and the technician handling the problem are paramount to ensuring that the vehicle gets back on the road quickly and at minimal cost, according to the managers of several roadside-repair networks.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Fleet managers intent on choosing natural gas as a truck fuel will have to go through a complicated and expensive process to convert, including the development of training and maintenance procedures, said participants in the American Trucking Associations’ Summit on Natural Gas in Trucking.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The low price of natural gas is a main reason why it is so appealing to trucking, but concerns ranging from infrastructure to maintenance are forcing the industry to go slow, executives said.

ARLINGTON, VA. — Trucking should expect “piecemeal” measures that promote natural gas use because the federal government probably is too divided to tackle comprehensive legislation that could include incentives for buying natural gas trucks, two congressmen said.

The new Texas toll road that has the nation’s fastest speed limit — 85 mph — is rarely used by trucks because it is expensive and has little to offer, carriers said.

Perdue Partners said it has acquired Atlanta-based logistics company Benton Express Inc. Terms were not disclosed.

U.S. retail diesel prices inched down 0.7 cent a gallon last week, but at $4.027 the average price of trucking’s main fuel has now topped $4 for a record 26th week this year, the Department of Energy reported.

Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), was selected by the House Democratic Caucus last week to continue to serve as the ranking member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee when the new Congress convenes in January.