Fuel

The U.S. diesel average price rose 0.9 cent to $2.928 a gallon last week, the second straight gain, but just the third increase in the past 12 weeks, the Department of Energy reported Aug. 2.

Parts maker Commercial Vehicle Group said it earned $700,000 in the second quarter, turning around a $22.5 million loss from the same quarter last year.

Federal transportation officials considering fuel-efficiency standards for heavy trucks should concentrate their early regulatory efforts on engines and tractors, not trailers, American Trucking Associations said.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has proposed a rule that would eliminate requirements for special permits to haul some hazmats, ranging from liquefied petroleum gas to anhydrous ammonia fertilizers.

Senate Democrats introduced legislation last week that would provide truckers rebates of $64,000 for every natural-gas Class 8 truck put into service by 2013.

The U.S. retail diesel average price reversed course last week, rising 2 cents a gallon to $2.919 after dropping 6.2 cents over the previous four weeks, the Department of Energy reported.

Oil prices fell near $77 Wednesday after a report showed that crude supplies jumped last week, the Associated Press reported.

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood rejected raising fuel taxes to pay for highway improvements and said that, despite pessimism about the prospects for a long-term highway bill, the administration was focused on completing a bill this year.