New orders for Class 8 trucks in March rose 28% from a year earlier, the second month in a row they have climbed, as buyers put requests for 11,285 new vehicles on the books, according to ACT Research Co. 

USA Truck Thursday reported a $3 million first-quarter loss, compared with a $1.9 million loss a year ago. Per-share, the company lost 29 cents, compared with 18 cents last year.

Class 8 U.S. retail truck sales gained 9.8% in March, driven by very strong performances by three original equipment manufacturers, the third month in a row that sales have increased, after falling every month in 2009.

Transportation leaders of the United States and Mexico have taken steps toward resolving the countries’ trade dispute, which was sparked by the end of a cross-border trucking program and led Mexico to place tariffs on more than $2 billion in U.S. goods.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) sent a bipartisan letter signed by 78 Members of Congress Wednesday to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, asking that they consider repealing the program that opens U.S. roadways to Mexican trucks.

Orders for new Class 8 trucks in March jumped 21.1% over year-ago levels and surged 35.9% over February’s total as business levels continued to lap 2009’s anemic pace, said FTR Associates.