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LAS VEGAS — Two industry analysts differed over whether trucking will tread water this year or improve its financial performance even more than it has, and economists told heavy-duty executives the danger of a double-dip recession is gone.

President Obama signed an executive order on Jan. 18 calling for a simplification of regulations and a review of ones that stifle economic growth.

Canadian Auto Workers union members have voted to strike soon at Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. in a move that could affect both carriers’ intermodal shipments in that nation.

The National Tank Truck Carriers association has asked federal hazardous materials regulators to withdraw a plan to outsource regulatory requirements for the design, manufacture, test, inspection and repair of cargo tanks to a pair of professional organizations.

U.S. retail fuel prices rose for the seventh consecutive week, as the average price of a gallon of diesel jumped by 7.4 cents a gallon to $3.407, the Department of Energy reported.

The cost of U.S. traffic congestion has jumped to $115 billion in 2009 from $24 billion in 1982, and trucks are shouldering a disproportionate share of the cost, according to a report released this week.

Supply chain technology firm Intermec Inc. said it will acquire Vocollect Inc., a warehouse technology firm focused on voice-enabled products.