Truck stop electrification initiatives are proliferating again as four vendors try to convince more drivers to shut down engines and use the systems’ heating, cooling and Internet options to reduce emissions, costs and fuel use.

An index of leading economic indicators rebounded in May, climbing 0.8% after dropping for the first time in almost a year, the New York-based Conference Board said Friday.

An index of leading economic indicators fell 0.3% in April after nine months of gains, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

An index of leading economic indicators rose 0.4% in March, the ninth straight monthly increase, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

An index of leading economic indicators increased in December, the six consecutive monthly increase, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

Trucking officials said efforts to enact federal legislation protecting carriers from overreaching indemnification provisions in shipper contracts were likely to be the industry’s primary tort reform push in the coming year.

An index of leading economic indicators rose 0.3% in September, the third consecutive increase, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

A federal judge has ruled that FedEx Ground drivers in Kansas are independent contractors and not employees, handing the company a victory in its ongoing litigation over the classification of its drivers.

More than 30 current and former FedEx Ground drivers brought a class-action lawsuit against the company last week in a federal court in Massachusetts, alleging that they were misclassified as independent contractors.