New orders for trailers continued at a strong pace in March, despite dropping 30% from a year ago, ACT Research Co., Columbus, Ind., reported, adding that total orders for the first quarter were down just 1% from the strong performance in the first three months of 2011.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Swift Transportation Inc. opposes the trucking industry’s lobbying efforts toward allowing heavier trucks on interstate highways in the United States, the company’s CEO told a gathering of Canadian trucking executives.

Canadian transportation firm TransForce Inc. said its first-quarter profit improved, boosted by acquisitions.

Consumer confidence rose in April to the highest level in a year, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index released Friday.

Universal Truckload Services’ first-quarter net income rose to $3.6 million, or 23 cents a share, from $2.9 million, or 19 cents, a year ago.

Echo Global Logistics said its first-quarter profit rose as revenue climbed to a record high.

Bay Grove Capital said it is combining the operations of five refrigerated warehousing companies acquired over the past three years under the name Lineage Logistics.

Transportation and third-party logistics firm C.H. Robinson Worldwide reported a first-quarter profit of $106.5 million, or 65 cents a share, up from $97 million, or 59 cents, a year earlier.