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U.S. freight railroads have reached a tentative contract with about 81,000 workers represented by the United Transportation Union, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci (D) signed a bill to temporarily allow trucks hauling forest products to exceed state weight limits by 5% in hopes of helping them offset high fuel prices, the Associated Press reported.

Oklahoma officials are set to begin a $61 million project to build nine state-of-the-art inspection stations will improve highway safety and better enforce truck weight laws, the Associated Press reported.

Less-than-truckload carrier USF Holland said Tuesday it launched a new guaranteed service to and from Canada.

WASHINGTON — In a controversial report calling for huge new spending on the national transportation system, a congressional commission last week made several recommendations that would affect trucking, including new flexibility in the federal driver hours-of-service rule in congestion-prone areas.

WASHINGTON — A congressional report calling for a huge new federal investment in transportation infrastructure financed by hefty tax increases brought sharp opposition from Republicans, including Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, who led the commission.

U.S. retail fuel prices dipped last week, as crude oil costs fell. The Department of Energy said the average price for diesel around the nation was 5 cents a gallon lower at $3.326, while gas slipped 4.1 cents to $3.068.

U.S. consumer confidence rose this month, according to the University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

An index of leading economic indicators fell 0.2% last month, the New York-based Conference Board said Friday.