Business

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association and its affiliated associations, including the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association, have asked President Obama to immediately extend the $5 billion parts supplier program to all parts suppliers, including those serving heavy-duty trucking.

A review of U.S. efforts to ensure the safety of Mexican trucks crossing the border said the trucks’ out-of-service rates were similar to those of U.S. trucks, but it raised concerns about how traffic violations by Mexican drivers are reported and data on Mexican carriers are maintained.

Global economic and environmental challenges, upgrading transportation infrastructure and improving business performance are some of the major issues on the agenda at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ annual conference Sept. 20-23 in Chicago.

The Department of Transportation is distributing free software the agency said will help create a central Web portal through which shippers, carriers and third parties can automatically exchange data about freight movements.

The average retail price of U.S. diesel dipped 2.7 cents to $2.647 a gallon, breaking a string of six small weekly increases that began in mid-July, the U.S. Department of Energy reported.

When Congress went back into session last week, the prospects for passing a long-term highway bill appeared to be dimming as other issues continued to dominate the legislative agenda.

President Obama must decide by Sept. 17 whether to accept the recommendation of the U.S. International Trade Commission to impose tariffs on passenger and light-truck tires made in China, the second-largest U.S. trading partner.

Navistar International Corp. reported a $12 million loss in its fiscal third quarter, but top executive Daniel Ustian said he expects modest improvement in truck orders this quarter and next year, fueled by major fleets’ purchases.

Wholesale inventories fell in July for the eleventh consecutive month, the Commerce Department said Friday.