The price of diesel fuel jumped to the highest level seen in 22 weeks, amid predictions of still higher prices to come.

Shrinking demand for new heavy-duty trucks will claim the jobs of an estimated 500 employees who will be idled at Kenworth Truck Co.’s Chillicothe, Ohio, plant in September. It also is forcing Mack Trucks to ordain a “down week” at three plants in early October.

Slumping shipments of van trailers during the first six months of 2000 reversed an otherwise positive picture for truck trailer shipments and caused the total shipment figure to lag 3.3% behind the midyear figure in 1999.

Slumping shipments of van trailers during the first six months of 2000 reversed an otherwise positive picture for truck trailer shipments and caused the total shipment figure to lag 3.3% behind the midyear figure in 1999.

Sue Bailey assumed duties Aug. 21 as administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, replacing Ricardo Martinez, who stepped down in October 1999.

The Department of Transportation said last week it would set the first-ever standards for the use of performance-based brake testers on commercial trucks, and the move is being met with widespread praise in trucking and law enforcement circles.

The Department of Transportation said Aug. 9 it would set the first-ever standards for the use of performance-based brake testers on commercial trucks, which could give law enforcement agencies a major new tool in the drive for safer highways.

U.S. inventories of distillates and crude oil dropped last week – the latter to the lowest level in 24 years, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

For much of 1999 and 2000, truckers have struggled to survive in the face of what seem to be endlessly rising prices for diesel fuel.

For much of 1999 and 2000, truckers have used every trick in the book to survive what seem to be endlessly rising prices for diesel fuel.