New commercial trailer net orders jumped 59% in May from the same month last year, ACT Research Co. reported, adding that the market was “continuing a healthy rebound from a very weak 2009.”

Less-than-truckload carrier Con-way Freight said it won more business from Caterpillar Logistics Services.

June is National Safety Month, a particularly relevant observance this year as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration makes final revisions to its operational model for the Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 program, with implementation expected as early as December.

Consumer confidence declined this month following the highest level in more than two years in May, the New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday.

Retail diesel prices reversed course last week, as the national average rose 3.3 cents a gallon to $2.961 after falling 19.9 cents in the five previous weeks, the Department of Energy reported.

CSX Transportation and the District of Columbia filed a motion in federal court last week saying they plan to end their litigation over an attempt by the city to ban hazardous materials shipments.

SmartTruck, a company founded by aerospace engineers, has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for trailer attachments that it said could improve over-the-road fuel efficiency by up to  11% and that it soon would begin manufacturing them.