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While trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico continued to expand under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Clinton administration for the fifth year refused to admit Nafta truckers from Mexico, drawing a rebuke, and possible penalties, from arbitrators. In Canada, as in the U.S., skyrocketing fuel prices drove many truckers to protest lines or to the brink.

Shipments of truck trailers continued to mirror the decline in the truck sales market as the yearlong slump intensified during October.

Although the new millennium arrived without a hitch, it was an unsettling year for freight haulers as many of the trends that plagued trucking in 1999 — from rising fuel costs to a persistent shortage of drivers — continued to dog carriers in 2000.

When George W. Bush becomes president Jan. 20, he will have someone with the highest levels of transportation policy experience at his right hand - Andrew H. Card Jr.

Shipments of truck trailers continued to mirror the decline in the truck sales market as the yearlong slump intensified during October, sliding 37% from the same period in 1999.

In the news this morning: Expected OPEC production cuts sends crude oil prices higher; Intrenet closure to result in 1,700 layoffs; DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai to form light-truck joint venture; and more.

Today's technology headlines: AWS improves logistics operations at Hershey Foods; smarter warehousing for dotcoms; AOL faces pressure on instant messaging; and more.

This Afternoon's Headlines: NAPM report shows manufacturing fell for fifth straight month; Bush names Abraham to head Energy Department; Swiss allow heavier trucks on highways; and more.

President-elect Bush named current Commerce Secretary Norman Y. Mineta to be transportation secretary on Tuesday, making him the first Democrat to join Bush's Cabinet.

The four trucking companies owned by Intrenet Inc. were told Tuesday morning they will be shut down as soon as possible consistent with an orderly liquidation.