There are certainly times when aspects of our world take on shades of that perennial favorite movie, “Groundhog Day.” All we’re missing is Bill Murray and the icy pothole he steps in every morning.

Tire manufacturers say they are altering tread designs, block patterns and shoulder designs to comply with the SmartWay program and greenhouse-gas and fuel-efficiency rules. Some fleet managers, however, said those changes mean other performance areas will be compromised.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide said it sold its payment services business, T-Chek Systems, to Electronic Funds Source for $302.5 million in cash.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder declared an energy emergency in Michigan this week, due to shortages of diesel and gasoline in the state’s Upper Peninsula caused by a pipeline shutdown in Wisconsin.

U.S. Bank said it purchased TransCard’s Classes 7-8 fuel card product to expand its offerings to the heavy-duty truck market, with truckload firm U.S. Xpress Enterprises as its initial customer.

The latest quarterly study of trucking fleet failures paints a more positive picture than we would have expected in years past, considering the high level of fuel prices.

Three oil companies have agreed to settle lawsuits related to “hot fuel” — gasoline and diesel that is not adjusted by volume to account for temperature — the Kansas City Star reported.

This is in reference to the article “Shippers Support Trucking Industry’s Campaign to Get Congress’ OK for Longer, Heavier Vehicles.”

Fuel prices are again big news, as the national average for a gallon of retail diesel climbed to almost $4.10, well above that strong $4-a-gallon psychological threshold.