Even as total heavy-duty truck capacity continued to decline during the third quarter, recent reports on registrations of new and used trucks, rising orders for new vehicles and slowing sales of used tractors appeared to set the stage for a renaissance in new-truck sales.

Broad-based growth in heavy-duty truck sales slowed in October, as Volvo and Daimler’s two brands grew by more than 40% each, but the four other major nameplates all slipped below their low October 2009 totals.

Unfamiliar words such as “stability” and “price increases” are creeping into the less-than-truckload sector’s vocabulary these days, after a turbulent two years of rate cutting, market-share swings and some astronomical losses.

About 572 former employees of bankrupt flatbed carrier Arrow Trucking Co. will receive $2 million in back wages and benefits, the Tulsa World newspaper reported, citing court documents.

James Brown Contracting has acquired Durham, N.C.-based West Brothers’ Cos. a trucking, logistics and leasing of commercial fleet services in the Southeast. Terms were not disclosed.

Truck stop chain TravelCenters of America Monday reported a third-quarter profit, compared with a loss a year ago, citing an improved margin in fuel price per gallon.

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — Mack Trucks’ leadership rallied the company’s sales force here, urging dealers to sell more Pinnacle highway tractors in addition to the traditional vocational offerings. The formula for success, the leaders said, would be new ClearTech SCR engines, M-Drive transmissions and a “Made in the USA” appeal to economic patriotism.

Orders for new heavy-duty trucks jumped about 40% in September compared with the same month last year, an unexpectedly strong showing that analysts said resulted from a sharp boost in trucker confidence that sets the stage for a strong sales year in 2011.

In 1933, my grandfather, James Russell Hahn, founded Hahn Transportation on the understanding that trucking was essential, especially to Maryland farmers who needed to move the crops from the fields to the canneries, the milk to the creameries, and coal or oil to the homes, schools and hospitals for heat.

P.A.M. Transportation Services reported a third-quarter loss Wednesday, citing a softer freight market and increased costs.