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More than 250 truckers parked their rigs today in Washington, D.C. and took to the steps of the Capitol to ask for federal relief from spiraling diesel fuel prices.

This afternoon's headlines: Discord emerges on OPEC output boost; Shippers, exporters fear massive strike by Canadian owner-operators; and Ryder System takes slow lane to boost profits.

The fall in orders for new trucks and the rise in cancellations have yet to reach the sales side of the market, which was up slightly in January from the same period in 1999.

A Tennessee businessman has purchased the trucking fleet of Idahoan Foods in Lewisville, Idaho, and formed a new company, called Golden Valley Transportation, to provide nationwide truckload service.

Canadian National Railway Co. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. issued a guarantee to their customers that service will not deteriorate if a proposed merger of the two railroads goes through.

The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld two earlier decisions acquitting Ryder Truck Rental Canada of violating a provincial law that automatically blames truckers for accidents when wheels break off their rigs.

In the news this morning: DaimlerChrysler plans to build new truck plant in U.S.; EU waits for new Volvo moves; and Hyundai eyes all Daewoo Motor/Ssangyong Motor assets.

There is absolutely no reason for trucks to be doing more than 60 mph on the nation’s highways. They should be fitted with speed limiters immediately — and no truck needs to be in the fast lane, either, unless it’s a “two-laner.”

Port truckers upset about poor working conditions and surging fuel prices rallied Friday at seven of the nation's largest ports, according to reports by Bloomberg News.

This afternoon's headlines: Nissan calls truck unit noncore, possibly signaling eventual sale; Jury says safety ignored in death of trucker; and ASE certification vs. trucking company growth.