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The federal government unveiled a plan to give truck owners an economic incentive to retrofit older diesel engines with equipment that will bring their emissions in line with today’s pollution standards.

Federal officials are starting to worry about the ability of diesel engine manufacturers to live up to the stipulations in a 1998 consent decree that sets stricter pollution standards for model year 2003 engines.

Trucking companies and driver training schools opened hailing frequencies with each other during a landmark March 17 meeting organized by two national driver training groups.

The Professional Truck Driver Institute is heading into uncertain waters as its president departs for the private sector, and the organization develops a plan to stand on its own two feet.

In the news this morning: California to begin enforcement of Mexican truck lease ban; UPS sees a future full of brown trucks; and Teamsters use fliers to back up Coca-Cola bottling strike in West Virginia.

This afternoon's headlines: Republicna congressman says EPA used $1 billion engine settlement to cover for years of lax enforcement; ESCO president plans rapid expansion; and Fleet-tracking firm At Road files for IPO.

Debate over the federal government’s proposal to impose ergonomics regulations on industry grew warmer, as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration held the second round of public hearings last week.

The Motor Freight Carriers Association and the Teamsters have teamed up to develop an industrywide training program to combat sexual harassment, aided by a $100,000 grant from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

The heist of the Oscar statues from a Roadway Express facility in California recently put the spotlight on cargo theft, but transportation industry officials know this is not a new problem.

Six months ago, Lana Batts said she wouldn’t have dreamed of being an executive for an Internet portal. But now she's executive vice president for Transportal, an Internet service she said is designed to help her former constituents operate more efficiently.