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The U.S. average diesel price rose 4.4 cents a gallon last week to $2.616, the seventh straight weekly increase that has pushed it up by 43.1 cents to the highest level in nearly eight months.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The U.S. trucking industry is falling behind its international counterparts in switching to higher-productivity vehicles

Trucking stocks have rallied over the past four months despite the sour U.S. economic conditions, but the recent rise in shares is a fragile one, analysts warned.

The world’s largest ocean container shipping company, Maersk Line, said it will begin charging leasing fees to local truckers who use their intermodal chassis, which traditionally have been free.

WASHINGTON — House transportation leaders appeared isolated last week, as several prominent senators endorsed a bid by the Obama administration to postpone working on a major surface transportation-funding bill until 2010.

Over-the-highway trucks and buses with 2007 engine technology ran nearly 90% cleaner than required by federal emission standards for diesel particulate matter, the key pollutant targeted that year, a recent study has found.

WASHINGTON — A key House subcommittee last week approved the framework for a new six-year surface transportation plan proposed by transportation committee leaders.

U.S. consumer confidence rose this month for the fourth consecutive time in June, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

Consumer personal spending rose 0.3% in May, the Commerce Department said Friday.