Business

Electronic commerce is a term associated most readily with consumer-oriented retail sales tools such as Amazon.com, eBay.com and the like, but the electronic transaction of commerce has been de rigueur for the trucking industry for years.

The price of diesel fuel, the lifeblood of the trucking industry, took another step up last week, the 10th week in a row that truckers have had to pay more to keep the freight — and the U.S. economy — moving.

January orders for new Class 8 trucks skyrocketed 320% to 27,000 from the year-ago level, a clear sign that the industry will enjoy a stronger 2011, two research organizations said last week.

TAMPA, Fla. — Less than a month after the federal government proposed replacing nearly all driver logbooks with electronic onboard recorders, technology companies here said that smooth enforcement will be impossible until law enforcement agencies adopt more technology.

American Trucking Associations last week named Sean McNally as its new vice president of communications and press secretary.

Seven of the eight publicly traded less-than-truckload carriers reported improved financial performance in the fourth quarter, as pricing and tonnage gained across the industry, giving hope for better 2011 results.

In a move to broaden its service offerings, Roadrunner Transportation Systems has made what’s believed to be the first purchase of an intermodal drayage fleet by a primarily less-than-truckload carrier.

The 700-member Truckload Carriers Association plans to oppose a proposed federal mandate requiring the use of electronic onboard recorders because there is no evidence that the technology will improve highway safety, the association’s president said.

Cummins Inc. maintained its market-share lead in Class 8 engines during 2010, although Detroit Diesel Corp. grabbed a bigger portion of the market, according to WardsAuto.com.