The trucking industry is addicted to hauling air. Trailers that ideally should be rolling down the road filled to capacity are burning precious fuel just to carry a couple of skids 1,000 miles.    

ORLANDO, Fla. — A fledgling company showcased a new product here it said could save trucking companies a nickel a mile in fuel costs, while helping to retain drivers.

The first-ever heavy-truck fuel-efficiency proposal has been sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review.

Federal regulators have officially opened the public comment phase of their first-ever regulations to set commercial truck fuel-efficiency and carbon-emission standards.

The Obama administration last week proposed the first-ever regulations to set commercial truck fuel-efficiency and carbon-emission standards.

After months of anticipation and concern, the trucking industry finally got a look last week at the federal government’s first proposal to regulate the fuel-efficiency and carbon-dioxide output of commercial trucks.

Federal transportation officials considering fuel-efficiency standards for heavy trucks should concentrate their early regulatory efforts on engines and tractors, not trailers, American Trucking Associations said.

American Trucking Associations and other business groups are urging the Senate to move forward with a bill that would create a research program to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy- and medium-duty trucks.