Federal authorities last week searched truck cabs, tractors, cars and ship cargo holds along the nation’s borders and at its seaports, creating inspection lines that stretched for several miles at crossing points into Mexico and Canada and at some ports.

The Engine Manufacturers Association said it will appeal an Aug. 21 court ruling that California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District can require public agencies to buy low-emission or alternative-fuel vehicles for their fleets of trucks, vans, buses and other vehicles. BR CLEAR = ALL.

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), the only Senate member licensed to drive a commercial motor vehicle, has introduced legislation to provide Native Americans with training and financial assistance to become truck drivers.

American Trucking Associations has joined several environmental groups in endorsing an Environmental Protection Agency proposal that would require engine makers to post their emission control systems on the Internet.

WASHINGTON — Sen. James Jeffords (I-Vt.), chairman of the Committee on Environmental and Public Affairs, is considering legislation that would put the transportation sector under a national “cap-and-trade” pollution program, similar to the one in the utilities industry.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will exempt truck drivers delivering home heating oil from weekly restrictions on the number of hours they may be on duty in a three-year test to gauge the exemption’s effect on safety.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is moving to close a regulatory loophole that has allowed some commercial truck drivers failing drug tests to find new driving jobs.

Truck drivers and others could benefit from greater tax deductions for the cost of meals during business travel as soon as next year under legislation proposed by Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-Mo.), ranking minority member of the Senate Small Business Committee.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee, wants to give truck owners a small break by distributing some of the costs of the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax to the buyers.

An industry petition to put 19- and 20-year-olds behind the steering wheels of heavy trucks at the end of a 48-week training period has drawn about 550 comments, mostly in opposition, said a spokesman for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.