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The national average price of diesel fuel dropped this week for the first time in seven weeks, to $1.479 cents a gallon, on expectations that oil-producing countries will agree to produce more petroleum.

The Teamsters gathered port truckers from across the country for a rally in the Capitol to protest high fuel prices and poor working conditions.

This afternoon's headlines: AceFusion.com rolls out logistics management site; Trucking companies work to cut fuel costs; and Sections of I-10/610 in Louisiana to be closed for weekend roadwork.

Overnite Transportation and the Teamsters met again March 23-24, this time in Kansas City, Mo., even as the union announced plans to step up its strike campaign and the company boasted of improved services and profits.

A bill that would have created a weight-distance tax in Maryland – and placed an extra $225 million tax burden on trucking – has gotten the legislative ax.

In the news this morning: Volvo expects Mitsubishi accord to stay in place after DaimlerChrysler deal; VW renews talks on Scania; and General Mills, Pillsbury form alliance with others to share trucks.

Class 8 truck sales continue to outpace 1999 figures for the second straight month, but an analyst says a two-thirds drop in new orders suggests manufacturers are still working off their backlogs.

From high fuel costs to a tight labor pool, there’s no shortage of reasons to be pessimistic about the state of the truckload industry. But these tough times may help the more-established carriers.

State legislators are trying to ease the pain of high diesel and gasoline costs by removing state taxes from the fuel price equation.

This afternoon's headlines: Georgia to consolidate most motor vehicle services into one agency; UPS Logistics Group opens maquiladora center in Texas; and Port truckers gather in Washington for Teamsters demonstration