Volvo AB, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of heavy-duty diesel engines and trucks, said it would introduce diesel-electric hybrid power systems for heavy trucks, including freight transporters.

Although fleets’ interest in auxiliary power units is growing, officials at Freightliner Trucks said they expect demand to slow temporarily this year as carriers concentrate their spending on current trucks rather than those coming in January.

Fleet customers are buying new trucks ahead of schedule to avoid paying sharply higher prices for 2007 models, but an expected drop in sales next year probably will not be as bad as it was after emission regulations took effect in October 2002, Mack Trucks officials said.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Detroit Diesel Corp., engine subsidiary of Freightliner LLC, said its 2007 Series 60 engines would cost more than current models and that new diesel particulate filters would account for about half the increase.

TAMPA, Fla. — Volvo Trucks North America said it would add a $7,500 technology “surcharge” to all its trucks sold in 2007, to offset the cost of meeting new emission standards that take effect Jan. 1.

With 2007-model year trucks set to use newly developed diesel particulate filters to control soot, questions still remain over how the new devices will affect truck performance, according to industry experts.

Class 8 truck orders in North America reached an all-time monthly high of 43,100 in January, with every truck maker reporting strong gains as buyers accelerated purchases ahead of new engine emission rules coming Jan. 1, according to data from ACT Research.

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor. AS VEGAS — Officials of brake manufacturers Haldex and ArvinMeritor said a federal rule shortening the required stopping distance for new tractor-trailers by as much as 30% would spark changes in tire design and onboard sensors.

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor. img src="http://www.ttnews.com/images/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>Tire failures — caused largely by road debris, nails, bolts, poor tire maintenance or driver inattention to tire pressure — are more than a nuisance. Such failures, according to one road service provider, account for almost 40% of road service calls and are the leading reason why tractor-trailer combinations are stranded beside the road.

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor. he strong pace of tank-trailer orders since December has some manufacturers optimistic that sales and production levels will improve in 2006, after a poor showing last year.