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DHS Secure Flight Program Reportedly Behind Schedule • Gabriel Technologies Buys Risk-Consulting Firm • Bush to Re-nominate Conners as NTSB Chairwoman • Bill Would Increase Security of Some Hazmat Shipments

Crude oil prices edged up Wednesday after falling in intraday trading following a Department of Energy report that showed stronger-than-expected oil inventories.

Grocery firm Ahold Group reported fourth-quarter earnings of about $124 million or 8 cents a share, compared with about $15.5 million or less than 1 cent a year earlier.

Truckload carrier U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc. said Wednesday it is facing a first-quarter loss of 11 cents to 14 cents per share due to high fuel prices and reduced seasonal freight demand.

Union Pacific Corp. said Wednesday it will spend almost $1.6 billion this year to improve its rail tracks.

Webb Wheel Products said it had reorganized its operations into separate business units, including original equipment manufacturers, aftermarket and the transit industry.

The Department of 91��Ƶland Security said Wednesday it will send more than 500 agents to patrol Arizona’s border with Mexico.

The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 3.8% in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department said Wednesday in its final tally of the gross domestic product.

An Alabama state senator’s proposal to create a motorists’ hot line to report unsafe commercial vehicles has drawn criticism from trucking groups, which questioned the motive of the proposal.

Trucking industry representatives voiced concerns last week over the start of the government’s program to fingerprint hazardous materials drivers, but a federal official called the program “immensely successful.”