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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has partnered with American Trucking Associations for an apprenticeship program that could play a significant role in easing the industry’s driver shortage, and presents motor carriers with an opportunity to directly work with and train new entrants to boost their driving ranks.

Oil extended gains after the close as a decision by the U.S. and other major economies to release emergency stockpiles failed to ease concerns of a major shortfall in supplies as sanctions mount on Russia.

FRANKFURT, Germany — The International Energy Agency’s 31 member countries agreed March 1 to release 60 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves — half of that from the United States — “to send a strong message to oil markets” that supplies won’t fall short after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A Department of Transportation assessment of U.S. supply chain disruptions calls for new policies and utilizing funding resources contained in the bipartisan infrastructure law for such solutions as expanding truck parking and improving warehouse capabilities.

President Joe Biden is taking on the concentrated market power of ocean shipping companies, although officials at the agency overseeing the industry indicated they lack both the jurisdiction and, for now, any evidence of wrongdoing.

Toyota Motor Corp. will resume work at all its Japanese factories March 2 after a one-day shutdown, limiting the fallout from a cyberattack on one if its key suppliers.

New Mexico’s governor is being asked to pocket veto legislation that would force freight truckers hauling trailers to drive in the right lane on interstates in most circumstances or be fined.

LONDON — Global oil and gas giant Shell said Feb. 28 that it is pulling out of Russia as President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine continues to cost the country’s all-important energy industry foreign investment and expertise.

The national average price of diesel surged 4.9 cents to $4.104 a gallon, according to the Energy Information Administration’s latest survey, released Feb. 28

The Department of Transportation is proposing to add new drug testing guidelines that would permit motor carriers to test truck drivers using oral fluid samples as an alternative to urine testing.