Consumer confidence declined in December, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

Intermodal business continued to grow in 2012, powered by the combination of truckload freight migrating to rail long hauls, expanded Eastern truck/rail options and continued reliability improvements, industry experts said.

Epes Logistics Services said Friday it has acquired Cargo Masters Inc., a freight transportation and logistics firm based in Charlotte, N.C. Terms were not disclosed.

Before adding one, two — or several hundred — trailers, a fleet manager needs to determine what equipment’s right for the application and to do it by knowing what’s out there, what’s right for an operation, and the most basic choice of all, whether to buy new or used.

Perdue Partners said it has acquired Atlanta-based logistics company Benton Express Inc. Terms were not disclosed.

U.S. rail intermodal traffic fell 1.2% for the week ended Saturday from the same week last year, due in part to the eight-day strike at the California ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Arnold Transportation Services said that truckload and logistics firm LinkAmerica Corp. will merge with Arnold at the beginning of the year.

UTi Worldwide said Thursday its third-quarter net income fell to $10.5 million, or 10 cents a share, from $28.5 million, or 28 cents, a year earlier.