SAN ANTONIO — American Trucking Associations’ annual meeting here brought widespread reports that business conditions are the best in years, significant reorganization for some ATA-related groups and industry discussion of coming federal rules on such issues as diesel emissions and drivers’ work hours.

FREDERICK, Md. — The drivers pulled their antique trucks into a new-truck dealership here on a recent Saturday, both to show off their personal handiwork and revel in the history of the U.S. trucking industry.

In the latest version of a closely watched report on factory-sector activity, the National Association of Purchasing Management said Thursday that manufacturing contracted in January for the sixth straight month.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday said it would create new money fast enough to bring down overnight U.S. lending rates by half a percentage point more, in an effort apparently aimed at trying to prevent or shorten a recession.

New figures from the U.S. Commerce Department Wednesday confirm that trucking firms and factory operators knew what they were talking about when they warned that the economy was slowing fast toward the end of the year.

The Federal Reserve’s surprise cut in short-term U.S. interest rates — with likely cuts to follow — should prove to be a major boost to a trucking industry that has been reeling from weak freight shipments. But since many manufacturers and retailers are still cutting back, it could be months before truckers see a significant upturn.

The California Highway Patrol this week boosted its hours for checking truck traffic at a key inland weigh station north of San Diego, helping enforce cross-border trucking rules that apply to Mexican truckers operating here under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The facility is once again checking trucks 24 hours each day.

Trying to come up with ways to unblock some of the massive congestion for trucks trying to move across the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego, the California Trucking Association is officially calling on the U.S. Customs Service to stay open longer hours.

The California Highway Patrol this week boosted its hours for checking truck traffic at a key inland weigh station north of San Diego, helping enforce cross-border trucking rules that apply to Mexican truckers operating here under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Trying to come up with ways to unblock some of the massive congestion for trucks trying to move across the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego, the California Trucking Association is officially calling on the U.S. Customs Service to stay open longer hours.