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GE Capital is taking over the role of lead lender to support the purchase of International trucks, as Navistar International Corp.’s in-house finance captive withdraws from the retail market to concentrate on wholesale activities to support dealers, the two companies said.

Truck availability has tightened sharply in recent weeks as steadily growing freight demand draws even with total truck capacity, which shriveled during the recession, industry experts said.

The Mexican government is preparing to change the list of U.S. products that will be subjected to higher tariffs in retaliation for the continued lockout of that nation’s truck fleets, sources told Transport Topics last week.

Despite a challenging freight environment over the past year, the 2010 Mid-America Trucking Show organizers said industry optimism may be rising. They cited an anticipated increase in the number of exhibitors and attendees for the March 25-27 show.

A proposed federal rule that triples to $3,000 the annual registration fee for large hazardous materials motor carriers but maintains a fee of $300 for small carriers places an unfair burden on large carriers, American Trucking Associations and National Tank Truck Carriers said in written comments opposing the new rule.

Canada has delayed its plan to require carriers with incoming shipments to submit manifest information electronically to the Canada Border Services Agency, the Canadian Trucking Alliance said.

The shipping industry in the United States has the opportunity in the next 18 months to dramatically improve its efficiency and ability to compete in the global economy.

The head of Daimler AG’s truck unit said worldwide truck demand may take several more years to return to pre-recession levels, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

Nearly 90 proposals in 24 states and Congress would “undercut” independent contractor classification and subject carriers using owner-operators to “greater scrutiny and exposure,” according to a new American Trucking Associations’ owner-operator classification alert.

Bose Corp. officials have set the retail price for a sophisticated new heavy-duty truck seat, which is now available for purchase, at $5,995.