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ORLANDO, Fla. — With idling restrictions increasing in states and localities around the country, carriers are increasingly interested in buying systems that will allow drivers to keep their truck cabs cool or heated and to operate electrical “hotel” appliances such as televisions or computers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said Monday that that starting later this month, trucks crossing the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a new demonstration program will use satellite-based technology developed by Qualcomm Inc. to track trucks.

The decision by two major engine manufacturers, Cummins Inc. and Navistar International, to build 2010 heavy-duty diesel engines without selective catalytic reduction technology has upset truck sales forecasts for the 2009 and 2010 truck markets.

Revenue growth at tire maker Michelin slowed to 2.5% after the company had a 4.7% sales increase in the first half of the year, Bloomberg reported.

Trucking and logistics firm Ryder System said Wednesday its third-quarter profit rose, as its supply chain unit showed improvement.

Trucking and logistics firm Ryder System said Wednesday its third-quarter profit rose, as its supply chain unit showed improvement.

Iteris Inc., which makes lane-departure warning systems for the trucking industry, said late Tuesday its second-quarter profit improved from a year ago.

Third-party logistics firm General Freight Systems said it will begin using the TMWSuite software platform as part of a companywide technology upgrade.

Return on investment is a standard measurement of the dollar value of an information technology system. Small or medium-sized fleets likely focus their financials on cost per truck — “per seat,” in the IT lexicon.