Equipment

Federal officials ordered a recall of tires made in China after their U.S. distribution company disclosed that the Chinese manufacturer had stopped including a safety feature that prevented tire treads from separating, the New York Times reported.

Truckload carrier C.R. England and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association each claimed partial victory after a federal district court ruled on a case involving federal truth-in-leasing regulations.

Class 8 truck makers said they are offering electronically controlled air disc brakes as an option in 2007 models, promoting them as safer and easier to maintain than the drum brakes most U.S. heavy trucks use.

The U.S. heavy-duty truck fleet was about 4.8% larger at the end of the first quarter than it was in the comparable period last year, according to new data from R.K. Polk & Co.

Trucking executive Patrick Quinn proposed building a system of dedicated truck-only lanes to streamline freight movement and the idea has been “well received” by members of a U.S. commission.

Averitt Express will use the global locating system trailer tracking technology made by trucking technology firm SkyBitz.

Mack Trucks introduced a new in-cabin power system as an option, joining several other truck manufacturers — including International, Kenworth and Peterbilt — in offering built-in units to limit idling.