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The federal government will give motor freight carriers more time to file 1998 annual reports. It also is soliciting comments on a proposal to restrict public access to some sensitive carrier financial and operating data.

Conrail is testing a safety rule designed to reduce the likelihood of train collisions similar to one that killed two people in Williams County in January.

The truck safety debate took a new course Thursday as the National Private Truck Council called on the DOT to focus enforcement on drivers and carriers with the worst safety records.

TT File PhotoA proposed rule changing unloading operations for haulers of liquefied compressed gases such as propane could cost as much as $3,000 for each truck, an industry official said.

Older trailers will have to be retrofitted with reflective tape or reflectors within two years, under a final rule from the Federal Highway Administration.

Crouse Cartage Co. announced plans to eliminate its freight terminal and maintenance operations in Carroll, Iowa, and close an agency terminal in Fremont, Neb. Crouse is a subsidiary of TransFinancial Holdings.

Commerical Movers Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, has acquired Shaw/Kilgore Office Systems and will merge the business into a new division called CMI Installations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently recommended a nationwide smoke testing standard to avoid confusion among truck drivers traveling from state to state.

Transit Group has acquired KAT Inc. of Chesterton, Ind., for $725,000 in cash and 812,000 shares of Transit Group common stock.

General Parcel Service has merged with Bank Air Courier of Columbia, S.C., and Anderson Armored Car/Courier Division in Anderson, S.C., and has adopted a new name — Momentum Logistics.