Freightliner Corp. has introduced its new, conventional Class 8 truck, Coronado, in hopes of attracting a bigger share of the owner-operator market.

Automation does not necessarily mean fewer jobs, said the head of a company selling software designed to shortcut scores of steps in the way third-party logistical companies do business.

A continuing slump in the shipments of van trailers pulled overall trailer shipments down 8.1% in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period in 1999, according to the latest figures.

A continuing slump in the shipments of van trailers pulled overall trailer shipments down 8.1% in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period in 1999, according to the latest figures.

The plunge in heavy truck sales continued in October, with total sales of 14,440 down 37.1% from the 22,945 sold in October 1999.

Automation does not necessarily mean fewer jobs, said the head of a company selling software designed to shortcut scores of steps in the way third-party logistical companies do business.

The six-axle, 97,000-pound tractor-trailer that a group of shippers and truckers would like to run on Interstate highways closely resembles a 16-year-old concept called the Turner truck.

The plunge in heavy truck sales continued in October, with total sales of 14,440 down 37.1% from the 22,945 sold in October 1999. The 10-month sales total of 184,497 was down 14.8% from the 216,461 sold in the first 10 months of 1999.

It now appears that Amtrak, the nation’s rail passenger service, may reach its congressionally imposed requirement of financial self-sufficiency in 2003 — mostly because of a freight service that breaks some generally accepted rules.

For the Intermodal Association of North America, the coming year will be somewhat similar to the current one — at least in terms of the association’s agenda of issues to be watched.