As the recession deepens, there is growing awareness in the transportation industry of the role dispatchers play in keeping third-party logistics firms and freight brokerages competitive, particularly in the areas where dispatch and customer service collide.

The 2009 Transport Topics 100 for-hire and private listings are available online. The listings, available to download free, show the top 100 U.S. and Canadian carriers in each category.

Trailer maker Wabash National Corp. lost $17.9 million during the second quarter — an improvement of more than $10 million from the year’s first three months, when it lost $28.3 million — and announced the completion of a deal with a private equity firm that will give it $35 million in new capital.

Trailer manufacturer Wabash National Corp. lost $17.9 million, or 59 cents a share, in the second quarter, compared with a loss of $3.2 million, or 11 cents, a year ago.

Trailer maker Wabash National Corp. said it has completed a $35 million investment in the company by a private equity firm.

Logistics firm Expeditors International of Washington said Tuesday its second-quarter net income fell 24% to $54.1 million, or 25 cents a share, from $71.3 million, or 32 cents, a year ago.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s decision to cut the maximum allowed stopping distance for large trucks by 30% will increase truck buyers’ costs somewhat, but will not force a widespread shift to new technology such as air disc brakes, industry groups and manufacturers said.

Kansas City Southern said Thursday it earned $6.7 million, 7 cents a share, in its second quarter, compared with $50.2 million, or 56 cents, a year ago.

Canadian freight railroad Canadian Pacific’s second-quarter net income grew to C$157.3 ($145 million), or 93 Canadian cents a share, from $154.7 million ($142 million), or C$1 a share, a year ago.