Several U.S. railroads, including Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific, are raising rates in an effort to recoup higher labor and fuel costs.

Teamsters and Overnite representatives this week walked away from their first bargaining sessions in almost five months with no agreements, but both sides said they would meet again on March 7.

USFreightways Corp. and Transport Corp. of America have called off a $150 million plan to merge the companies.

Representatives of Overnite Transportation Co. and the Teamsters will meet in Chicago to discuss changes in pay and benefits implemented by the company on Jan. 1.

Not even the prestige of being the world’s largest package carrier and the promise of delivering a majority of the goods purchased over the Internet have seemed to help United Parcel Service impress Wall Street.

TransForce Inc., one of the most active trucking consolidators in Canada, last week agreed to acquire TST Solutions of Mississauga, Ontario, for $85 million Canadian ($59 million U.S.).

Representatives of Overnite Transportation Co. and the Teamsters will meet in Chicago to discuss changes in pay and benefits implemented by the company on Jan. 1.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said last week that Landstar Ligon has paid a penalty of $43,510 for failing to comply with federal safety rules.

The president of Hawk Transport said he is being unfairly penalized for the failure of Landstar Ligon’s management to adequately monitor drivers’ compliance with federal safety rules.

Demand for freight transportation remained firm in the first few weeks of January, easing fears of an economic slump in the aftermath of a robust fourth quarter and the buildup of inventory over Y2K concerns.