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ORLANDO, Fla. — Fleet executives complained bluntly about what they said were padded bills for repair services, unreliable estimates and failures by service operators to offer realistic completion times.

Less-than-truckload pricing dwindled during the fourth quarter, contributing to an increase in operating ratios toward the break-even point, according to a survey of results from publicly traded companies.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kevin Knight, chief executive officer of Knight Transportation, touted trucking’s efforts in recent years to become more environmentally friendly, and said the industry should work to improve its green message to the public.

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell (D) has proposed spending $200 million for highway bridge repairs, plus $27 million to increase freight capacity for railroads, one of which plans to build an intermodal terminal in Pittsburgh.

UPS Inc. and the U.S. Postal Service have agreed to work together to make it easier for consumers to return goods purchased online, a move that more closely aligns the nation’s mail delivery system with the largest commercial package carrier.

Last January, our company launched an “instructor-of-the month” program. We began by inviting directors of truck-driver training programs to nominate individuals, and then we interviewed the winning instructors.

U.S. consumer confidence declined this month, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan’s final monthly consumer sentiment index released Thursday.

Retail sales rose 1% in January, halting a six-month slide, the Commerce Department said Thursday.