91ÊÓƵ

WASHINGTON — Several prototype Class 8 hybrid trucks are currently under development, but the technical and economic obstacles in the way of placing reliable and fuel-efficient heavy hybrid over-the-road trucks in service remain daunting, experts told a House subcommittee.

Soaring fuel prices have driven trucking bankruptcies up 143% over the same time last year, and industry analysts said the market may need to consolidate more before it improves for those companies that survive, the Associated Press reported.

Ford Motor Co. plans to lay off up to 12% of its salaried employees by August as part of a restructuring in the face of slumping sales and high fuel prices, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

As fuel prices have skyrocketed, trucking companies have been forced to look closer at other parts of their businesses to trim costs.

The California Air Resources Board has confirmed to Transport Topics that Mack Trucks Inc., Cummins Inc. and Volvo Trucks North America have received certification that their heavy-duty engines meet California’s nitrogen oxide emission standards, providing users an exemption from the state’s five-minute idling regulation.

Your front-page article April 7 about auxiliary power units possibly saving on fuel quoted an APU maker’s spokesman who stated (like many others I have seen) that idling truck engines use up to 1.8 gallons of fuel an hour.

An unprecedented wave of exports, mostly to Russia, has cushioned a downturn in the Class 8 used-truck business, which has been hurt by high fuel prices and a weak freight market, according to industry executives.

Diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. said Tuesday it opened its first fuel systems manufacturing site outside of North America, the Cummins Fuel Systems Wuhan plant, in China.

Accuride Corp., a maker of wheels, chassis parts and seat assemblies for commercial trucks and trailers, said it will form a joint venture with Benecor Inc. to distribute diesel exhaust fluid, or urea, at truck stops, fuel stations and fleet locations.

Diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. Wednesday unveiled two new auxiliary power unit systems that are compliant with new California Air Resources Board idle-reduction regulations.