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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.

As we move closer to the next federal mandate on emissions — which comes into force for 2010-model heavy-duty trucks — proponents of the two competing technologies are beginning to publicly argue over the superiority of their choices.

Auxiliary power units, initially pushed by federal and state governments to reduce air pollution despite concerns by fleet owners and owner-operators over their initial cost, are attracting more buyers who purchase them for the fuel savings, now that average diesel prices are about $4 a gallon.

The national average retail diesel price dipped 2.5 cents a gallon last week after six straight increases, the Department of Energy reported, even as gasoline rose 3.1 cents to set a new record high.

Less-than-truckload carrier Estes Express Lines, Richmond, Va., said Monday it has become one of the first major LTL carriers to become Security Compliant with the Transportation Security Administration.

Truckers slowed to as low as 20 miles per hour on the New Jersey Turnpike on Tuesday, clogging the roadway as part of a nationwide protest against surging diesel fuel prices, Bloomberg reported.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Talk of fuel efficiency and reduced engine emissions largely displaced glitz and chrome at center stage at the Mid-America Trucking Show last week.

Truckload carrier Covenant Transportation Group said Thursday it will lose 40 cents to 50 cents per share in the first quarter, citing soaring diesel fuel prices.

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.