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Two industry groups, representing truckers and their inspectors, asked the federal government to allow more time to respond to proposed changes in the hours of service for commercial drivers.

Hours of service, Internet commerce and trucking association politics are on the agenda for the annual meeting of the National Tank Truck Carriers Association.

Despite its imminent purchase by Volvo, Mack Trucks will go ahead with plans to roll out a full line of Class 8 trucks that are designed to provide a “bridge” to the next generation of commercial vehicles.

A House appropriations subcommittee granted the Department of Transportation another $605 million for 2001, boosting DOT’s overall spending plan to $55.2 billion, or about $5.2 billion over 2000.

In the news this morning: Truckers in California being hit with higher insurance premiums; New York investment house raises its stake in Navistar; and Barrels of sodium cyanide stolen from a big rig lead to evacuations in New York.

This afternoon's headlines: Canadian safety coalition urges motorists to use caution around big rigs; Analysts say California's transportation needs not being met; and Rhode Island hands out loans to truckers hit by diesel price spikes.

The Professional Truck Driver Institute plans to split off from the Truckload Carriers Association after spending four years with the group.

The “Love Bug” virus rippled across the Internet last week, putting the bite on a number of carriers and trucking-related businesses.

The national average price of diesel fuel dropped for the second straight week, but the price of crude oil was on the rise due to predictions of shortages in the autumn and winter.

The decision by Texas to require a special clean diesel fuel in the Dallas area reawakens trucking’s fear that carriers will have to buy fuel on a state-by-state basis.