Business

MIAMI — The softening U.S. economy is putting pressure on cost-conscious shippers to hold the line on freight rates this year, setting the stage for a tough battle with carriers seeking further rate increases to cover their own rising costs, such as driver pay.

Former Pilot Flying J President Mark Hazelwood and seven other former company sales executives were indicted last week on federal charges related to an illegal multimillion-dollar diesel fuel-rebate conspiracy.

The latest trends in maintaining heavy-duty vehicles and best practices for overcoming the growing shortage of diesel technicians will be key topics during the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting later this month.

New infrastructure projects would be funded through a significant new tax on oil companies, according to President Obama’s fiscal 2017 budget request.

MIAMI — Privately held trucking companies are approaching today’s freight market with a healthy dose of caution, prompted by factors such as high inventories and weaker exports, according to top carrier officials addressing an investor conference.

DALLAS — Driver training on electronic logging devices will play an essential role in helping to smooth the trucking industry’s transition to the federally mandated technology, an official with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration told an audience of carriers and technology providers.

Heavy-duty truck and engine makers reported earnings for the fourth quarter and the year that show the North American market starting to ease, Europe on the rise and the rest of the world showing difficulties.

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted last week to keep a trucking provision, tucked in an aviation reform bill, that would prevent states from enacting laws requiring companies to schedule meal-and-rest breaks for drivers or to pay drivers by the hour.