Safety

I am interested in the feedback on fuel prices displayed in “Letters to the Editor.” Unfortunately, most of the letters did not focus on two salient facts affecting the price of oil. The first is the dismal exchange rate of the U.S. dollar versus the euro, and the second is world demand for petroleum products.

The federal government’s Transportation Workers Identification Credential enrollment began Wednesday at three U.S. ports: Chattanooga, Tenn.; LaPorte, Texas; and Portsmouth, N.H.

Arkansas Best Corp.’s first-quarter profit jumped 78% to $8.5 million, or 34 cents a share, from $4.8 million, or 19 cents, a year earlier.

Transportation and logistics firm C.H. Robinson Worldwide’s first-quarter profit rose to $86.3 million, or 50 cents a share, from $73 million, or 42 cents, a year ago.

The Department of Transportation proposed Tuesday to boost fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks by almost 25% by the year 2015.

Covenant Transportation Group said late Monday it lost $7.8 million, or 56 cents a share, in the first quarter, compared with a loss of $2.1 million, or 15 cents, a year ago.

Forward Air Corp.’s first-quarter profit was $10 million, or 35 cents a share, compared with $10.3 million, or 34 cents, a year earlier.

Trucking technology system provider TransCore said its new Rate Index Pro product will provide single-lane, real-time truckload information that can be used in pricing and contract negotiations.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s medical review board backed a proposal to recommend to the agency that drivers who have undergone successful kidney-transplant surgery can resume driving 90 days later.

Rising fuel costs, weakening demand for freight hauling and the subprime lending crisis are making it tougher for drivers and trucking companies to qualify for financing to buy equipment.