ORLANDO, Fla. — The emergence of Uber-style transactions in the freight industry will not replace brokers, experts in the segment said while acknowledging a surge in both the number of new motor carriers and mobile apps to locate freight.

While sales of Class 8 trucks powered by natural gas remain low, U.S. and Canadian natural gas heavy-duty retail sales overall had a healthy start to 2017, boosted mostly from refuse fleets, transit and school bus operators, according to ACT Research Co.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Greater involvement from shippers and third-party logistics providers is an important next step for realizing the freight efficiency goals at the heart of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Program, an agency representative said. And some are taking a look at the program.

ORLANDO, Fla. — A panel of top executives from three major fleets emphasized the importance of international trade, the emergence of blockchain technology for freight transactions and the value of dedicated service during a shippers conference here.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Truckstop.com will launch within three weeks the industry’s first rate-forecasting tool, a move that underscores the advantage of posting rates on the spot market, a company executive said April 10.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Specialty, flatbed and heavy-hauler trailer manufacturers exhibiting at the Mid-America Trucking Show wanted to talk about an exceptionally good start to the year, plus greenhouse-gas emissions regulations, aluminum, manufacturing discipline and a shortage of welders.

Heightened expectations for driver comfort, safety and convenience from behind the wheel are intersecting with a surge in technology and digital information in the truck cab, compelling a push to help drivers maximize efficiency in their increasingly crowded work environments, industry experts said.