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Oil closed at more than $81 a barrel Wednesday for the first time in a year as an inventory report showed that stockpiles are at the highest level since August.

Transportation and third-party logistics firm C.H. Robinson Worldwide reported a third-quarter profit of $95.5 million, or 57 cents a share, up slightly from $93.6 million, or 54 cents a share, a year ago.

Canadian National Railway Co. said its third-quarter net income dropped to C$461 million or 97 cents per share, from C$552 million or C$1.16 per share a year earlier.

Arkansas Best Corp. said Wednesday it took a third-quarter loss and that Chief Executive Officer Robert Davidson will retire at the end of this year, to be succeeded by Judy McReynolds.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signed a law Tuesday that would set fines for vehicles with “dangerous accumulations” of snow or ice on them, though enforcement will not begin for a year, the Associated Press reported.

NIC Technologies LLC said Tuesday it has been awarded the contract to oversee the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s pre-employment screening system for truck and bus drivers.

Refrigerated truckload carrier Marten Transport’s third-quarter net income fell 43% to $3.5 million, or 16 cents a share, from $6.1 million, or 28 cents, a year ago.

Seattle-based truckload carrier Haney Truck Line said Tuesday it has purchased two Northwestern truckload companies, Washington-based Puget Sound Truck Lines and Oregon-based Nickel Plate Express.

Transportation officials said they are optimistic Congress still will pass a long-term highway bill in coming months, but the exact timetable could depend on how quickly lawmakers wrap up debate on other legislation.