Business

American Trucking Associations’ truck tonnage index rose 2.7% in May, the 18th consecutive year-over-year increase, but the growth rate fell to its slowest pace since February 2010 as U.S. economic growth flagged.

Heavy-duty truck manufacturers said they are experiencing rolling components shortages as suppliers who survived the recession struggle to keep up with the unexpectedly rapid surge in demand for new trucks.

As the number of women truck drivers increases, truck-stop operators say they are adding services that are meant to allay concerns about safety, cleanliness, health and respect that often trouble their female customers.

It’s sort of a good problem to have, shortages. It’s a problem that means times are good. Suppliers of components that go into Class 8 trucks say they’re barely able to keep up with demand, as truck manufacturers shift into high gear to meet carriers’ desire to replace their aging vehicles.

An anti-fraud bill introduced in Congress would raise the freight broker surety requirement to $100,000 and mandate that motor carriers who broker freight loads obtain separate broker authority.

Sales of used Class 8 trucks fell 20.4% in May from the same month last year, while prices jumped 5% from April, because of low inventories, numerous sources said.

Orders for new trailers in May increased 30% from a year ago but slipped from an April peak, although manufacturers said the market remained strong, with total orders through May 77% ahead of 2010 and with a growing backlog of deliveries.

Navistar International Corp. spokesman Roy Wiley has concluded a 13-year run with the Warrenville, Ill., truck and engine maker and an overall career of 59 years in newspaper journalism and public relations, retiring June 30.

Despite LightSquared Subsidiary LLC promising major changes to its nascent broadband network, truckers and technology companies said they are not convinced the revamped system won’t jam Global Positioning System devices critical to freight operations.