Blockchain is one of those concepts people often say they need to get their heads around. So what, exactly, is it?

Freight contracts, document transfers, food safety, driver security, parts management and asset tracking are among the many elements of the trucking business that could become easier and more secure through new applications built around the shared digital ledger called blockchain.

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Kenworth Truck Co. is wrapping up tests on a zero-emissions hydrogen-electric Class 8 truck that will be operating in drayage applications in Southern California by the end of March, company executives said.

The U.S. average retail price of diesel rose 1.6 cents to $3.086 as oil slipped and continued to slide below $64 a barrel. It marked the fourth consecutive week of average diesel prices above $3.

North American Class 8 orders in January unexpectedly surged to the second-highest total amid new tax breaks, strong freight rates, dwindling production slots and efficient vertically integrated powertrains, analysts reported.

Diversified manufacturer Daimler AG reported it sold a record 3.3 million vehicles in 2017 — including a 13% increase in truck sales — as full-year revenue and earnings also peaked amid a strong fourth quarter.

Diversified truck manufacturer AB Volvo reported a surge in net income as well as record revenue for 2017 as truck demand remains high in Europe and is increasing in North America and Brazil.

Independent engine maker Cummins Inc. continued its push into commercial vehicle electrification. The company announced it has acquired Johnson Matthey’s UK automotive battery systems business, a subsidiary that specializes in high-voltage automotive grade battery systems for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Component supplier Meritor Inc. reported mixed fiscal 2018 first-quarter results, posting a tax-related net loss together with higher revenue amid strength in all its markets.

Nikola Motor Co. and Cummins Inc. each expanded their ability to address the growing focus on electrification of commercial vehicles through, respectively, choosing the location for a truck production facility and an acquisition related to battery systems.