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Hours of service, Internet commerce and trucking association politics are on the agenda for the annual meeting of the National Tank Truck Carriers Association.

Despite its imminent purchase by Volvo, Mack Trucks will go ahead with plans to roll out a full line of Class 8 trucks that are designed to provide a “bridge” to the next generation of commercial vehicles.

Ah, spring. Love is in the air … er … e-mail.

A federal appeals court in Illinois ruled Landstar Inway is liable for freight damage that occurred in Mexico during a 1997 haul, even though the carrier’s contract contained tariff language stating it was not responsible for losses over the border.

Trucking and other businesses in the mature sectors of the economy will sneeze first if there is an interest rate “flu” brought on after the May 16 meeting of the Federal Reserve.

Estimates by the Department of Transportation show the proposed hours-of-service rules would prevent 2,600 accidents, 2,996 injuries and 115 fatalities annually, but fewer accidents do not necessarily translate into lower insurance costs for trucking.

As the Teamsters strike against Overnite Transportation Co. passes its sixth month, both sides appear to be reaching out to the public for support of their positions.

Illinois trucking interests, weary of a commercial driver licensing scandal that has dragged on for more than 18 months, launched an image program that attempts to show the public that the vast majority of truckers did not need to resort to bribery to get their CDLs.

Authorization for the federal highway program doesn’t expire until 2003, but trucking, railroad, labor and safety interests are already jockeying for position on the issue of longer combination vehicles.

Consolidated Freightways named a 31-year veteran employee as chief executive officer May 8, ending a three-month search to fill the position.