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The Obama administration last week announced stricter requirements for automobile fuel efficiency and a first-ever national greenhouse gas reduction standard for cars and light trucks. Though heavy trucks are not immediately affected, an industry official suggested similar changes could be coming within the next decade.

NEW YORK — A broad spectrum of truckers are reporting modest recent improvement in freight levels, but industry executives last week said it still was too early to declare a steady positive trend is emerging.

Trucking fleets and tire makers said increased use of tire-pressure monitoring systems and automatic inflation systems is saving lives and money.

With fuel prices dramatically lower than just a year ago, carriers that engage in hedging are questioning whether the market is close enough to a bottom to begin locking in prices, according to several fuel-purchasing analysts.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Transportation has yet to make a decision on whether to back increased federal truck weight limits, Secretary Ray LaHood said.

The House approved a bill before leaving for its Memorial Day recess that would make it easier for employees to join unions, Bloomberg reported.

Truckload carrier Knight Transportation said it will boost its quarterly dividend to 5 cents per share, from 4 cents.

The sluggish automobile industry has led Jack Cooper Transport Co., an automobile carrier for General Motors Corp., to merge with another car hauling company, the Kansas City Star reported.

The Senate late Thursday confirmed Randy Babbit, former president of the Air Line Pilots Association, as the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.