Freight industry leaders criticized a proposal to designate 27,000 miles of highways as a national primary freight network, arguing that it could unfairly restrict future investment in transportation infrastructure.

A new report said fleet failures rose to the highest level in more than three years during the fourth quarter, even though freight demand improved, reversing a long-standing trend.

A year that saw steady improvement in demand for freight hauling also brought uncertainties in the form of a partial government shutdown, a fumbled rollout of a new health-care law and regulatory changes, including new rules on driver hours of service and an increase in the surety bond requirement for freight brokers and forwarders.

WASHINGTON — A House panel created to explore freight issues has recommended that Congress create a national freight transportation policy and designate a freight network that includes all transport modes, namely highway, rail, air and water.

The Cass Freight Index, which measures shipment activity in trucking and other transport modes, edged up 0.1% in September from a year ago, while expenditures jumped by the most since March.

YRC Worldwide Inc. CEO James Welch has put himself in charge of the company’s $3.3 billion a year  less-than-truckload unit, replacing Jeff Rogers, who departed as profit-improvement efforts sagged.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Demand for new Class 8 equipment should rise about 15% next year, powered by a stronger domestic freight market and the ongoing need to replace old tractors, ACT Research reported.