Business

American Trucking Associations said last week it filed a lawsuit against the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to force the agency to issue an overdue regulation covering the documents and other materials fleets need to maintain to verify drivers’ logbooks.

Trucking industry officials have filed comments opposing the California Air Resources Board’s plan to initiate a statewide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Backers of the current driver hours-of-service rule far outnumbered opponents in the first of four scheduled public hearings held by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as it reviews the much-contested regulation.

The rate of fatalities in accidents involving trucks fell 12.3% in 2008 from the previous year — the largest year-to-year drop on record — to its lowest level on record, according to an American Trucking Associations analysis of Department of Transportation data.

YRC Worldwide Inc. set Feb. 17 as the date for a special shareholder meeting to vote on a reverse stock split that follows the debt-for-equity exchange offer that was completed earlier this month.

MELROSE PARK, Ill. — Navistar Inc. said it will introduce a new version of its top over-the-road tractor this year called the International ProStar Plus, and moved up the launch of its 15-liter engine to October from next year.

LAS VEGAS — Top executives from large trucking, truck-making and component manufacturing firms said they all see signs of a good business climate to come, but predicted 2010 will not be a boom year, and they are moving forward with very conservative business plans.

The national diesel average declined 0.9 cent to $2.87 last week as pump prices moderated after a sharp spike the prior three weeks, the Department of Energy reported.

Universal Truckload Services Inc. said it has acquired three companies that offer a variety of transportation services, continuing the company’s plan to grow through acquisitions.