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The Senate passed its version of banking reform on May 20, including provisions that would impose tighter regulations on the trading of derivatives such as crude oil.

Transport Topics Online will be closed Monday for the Memorial Day holiday. Please check back on Tuesday, June 1, for the latest trucking and freight transportation news.

As a former New York Department of Transportation regulator and a current player in the motor carrier transportation industry, I have followed the concerns voiced by members of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the Transportation Intermediaries Association, which represents property brokers and other third-party intermediaries.

New orders for heavy-duty trucks increased 91% in April, from the same month of 2009, ACT Research Co. reported.

Kansas’ move to become the 26th state to outlaw texting while driving has drawn praise from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for pushing the country past the halfway mark to a nationwide ban on the practice.

Flatbed carrier Boyd Bros. Transportation has ordered 325 trucks with 2010 engines from Navistar Inc., the manufacturer said Thursday.

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The Obama administration was set last week to outline a path to national fuel-economy standards for large trucks, bringing industry and government officials to the White House to announce a plan that could aim at driving habits as well as equipment changes to reduce fuel use.

Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon, said last week that the United States and his nation would solve the countries’ ongoing trade dispute caused by the closure of the southern border to longhaul truck traffic.

Wal-Mart Stores is seeking to take over its U.S. transportation services from suppliers in an effort to reduce the cost of hauling goods, Bloomberg reported Friday.