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PHOENIX — American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves lashed out at Washington for failing to make progress on a surface transportation bill, saying “political expediency” prevented essential action on improving the transportation infrastructure.

PHOENIX — Trucking executives meeting here last week said they were cautiously optimistic that despite a sluggish economy and regulatory and political uncertainties, the industry was poised to emerge from the doldrums it has been in for several years.

PHOENIX — Truck and engine makers said that they expect to encounter few obstacles meeting the first round of anticipated new federal fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide standards for heavy-duty trucks expected to become effective in 2014.

PHOENIX — The U.S. economy will skirt a second round of recession, although growth will probably remain sluggish for at least three quarters, a team of economic forecasters told members of American Trucking Associations.

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is revisiting its guidance for selective catalytic reduction technology in heavy-duty trucks as a result of a court settlement with Navistar Inc. earlier this year, an agency official said last week.

PHOENIX — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration sent its new proposed “wetlines” regulation to the White House Office of Management and Budget on Oct. 15 for review.

The U.S. retail diesel and gasoline averages both rose again last week, the Department of Energy reported, but the increases slowed as crude oil prices continued a recent slide.

The intermodal business is making a solid contribution to third-quarter rail profits, as volumes remain strong through the fall peak season for domestic freight, industry officials said.

UPS Inc. said Oct. 21 its third-quarter net income jumped 80% to $991 million from a year earlier, on the strength of higher rates and rising profits for domestic and international packages.

YRC Worldwide Inc.’s third-quarter financial results improved on both a year-over-year basis and from the second quarter of 2010, the less-than-truckload company said last week, reporting that tonnage improved and operating losses declined.