Trucking executives said the industry could see some benefits of the recently announced U.S.-Canadian trade agreement as early as this year.

Schneider National said it will open a new training center for drivers in its intermodal unit as the carrier pursues expansion of truck/rail business by hiring 160 drivers.

Customers ordered 28,393 new trailers in November, a 29.5% increase from the same month a year earlier and the largest monthly total since March 2006, ACT Research Co. said.

XPO Logistics said it has appointed Dominick Muzi to be president of Concert Group Logistics, the Buchanan. Mich., company’s freight forwarding subsidiary.

Trucking executive Thomas Nightingale is now president of sales and marketing for ModusLink Global Solutions, a publicly traded logistics and marketing firm specializing in the consumer goods and technology industries.

U.S. intermodal traffic increased 6% for the week ended Saturday from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.

Holding company Action Products International on Wednesday announced its acquisition of North East Expedite Logistics, a provider of transportation and logistics services on the East Coast.

Truck/rail freight’s steady growth trajectory continued in 2011, buoyed by domestic intermodal service that apparently continued to attract more over-the-road freight as truck capacity tightened.