The Obama administration last week proposed a $4 billion “down payment” on a national infrastructure bank to supplement traditional highway funding, as part of its $78.8 billion budget proposal for the Department of Transportation.

We almost made it through 2009 without another national news exposé of the trucking industry, but then came November and December. This time, the focus was on truck driver training and motor carrier employment practices.

Transportation and third-party logistics firm C.H. Robinson Worldwide reported a fourth-quarter profit of $87.7 million, or 52 cents a share, down slightly from $88.9 million, or 52 cents a share, a year ago.

Logistics, intermodal and brokerage firm Hub Group’s fourth-quarter profit fell to $10 million, or 26 cents a share, from $14.2 million, or 38 cents, a year ago.

Canadian freight railroad Canadian Pacific’s fourth-quarter net income grew 3% to C$194.1 million, or C$1.15, from C$188.1 million, or C$1.21, a year earlier, Reuters reported.

Kansas City Southern said Thursday it earned $32 million, 33 cents a share, in its fourth quarter, compared with $36.4 million, or 40 cents, the previous year.

Norfolk Southern Corp. reported that its fourth-quarter profit fell 32% from a year ago.

Canadian National Railway Co. said its fourth-quarter net income rose to C$582 million, or $1.23 per share, from C$573 million or C$1.21 per share a year earlier.