Despite a challenging economic climate, a record number of drivers will participate in the National Truck Driving Championships this week.

A proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule designed to expand biofuel use actually has brought the biodiesel market “to a grinding halt,” because it does not allow most blends of soy oil, according to the National Biodiesel Board.

President Obama last week assured Mexican President Felipe Calderon that the United States remains committed to reaching a cross-border trucking agreement with its southern neighbor.

Canadian firm Contrans Income Fund said that its second-quarter profit was C$6.2 million, or 20 cents per unit, down from C$10.2 million, or 35 cents, a year ago.

As the recession deepens, there is growing awareness in the transportation industry of the role dispatchers play in keeping third-party logistics firms and freight brokerages competitive, particularly in the areas where dispatch and customer service collide.

The 2009 Transport Topics 100 for-hire and private listings are available online. The listings, available to download free, show the top 100 U.S. and Canadian carriers in each category.

Trailer maker Wabash National Corp. lost $17.9 million during the second quarter — an improvement of more than $10 million from the year’s first three months, when it lost $28.3 million — and announced the completion of a deal with a private equity firm that will give it $35 million in new capital.

Trailer manufacturer Wabash National Corp. lost $17.9 million, or 59 cents a share, in the second quarter, compared with a loss of $3.2 million, or 11 cents, a year ago.

Trailer maker Wabash National Corp. said it has completed a $35 million investment in the company by a private equity firm.