Business

Forward Air Corp., a contractor to the air cargo industry, said its first-quarter profit slipped by 6% to $10.3 million or 34 cents a share, from $11 million or 35 cents a year ago.

Refrigerated truckload carrier Marten Transport said its first-quarter income fell 9.1% to $4.60 million or 21 cents a share, from $5.1 million or 23 cents a year earlier.

Existing home sales fell to a four-year low and consumer confidence declined to an eight-month low, two groups reported Tuesday.

The Jacksonville Port Authority said it recorded its busiest cargo-handling year in 2006 — its sixth consecutive year of cargo growth — with a 3% increase over 2005.

DaimlerChrysler AG expects U.S. sales of heavy-duty trucks to recover to last year’s level by 2009 after falling more than 40% this year, Bloomberg reported.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach said they would ban the oldest drayage trucks from doing business at their terminals.