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The February increase in truck tonnage that American Trucking Associations reported late last month — the fourth straight rise — may signal better times ahead for truckers and the U.S. economy, several industry analysts and observers said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While many of trucking’s most important suppliers had lackluster sales last year and said they expected more of the same through most of 2008, a few said they were able to weather the double-whammy of 2007’s pre-buy hangover and freight drop-off with revenue from investments in foreign markets less affected by the troubles in North America.

Auxiliary power units, initially pushed by federal and state governments to reduce air pollution despite concerns by fleet owners and owner-operators over their initial cost, are attracting more buyers who purchase them for the fuel savings, now that average diesel prices are about $4 a gallon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it is making available almost $50 million in grants to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of diesel engines.

The national average retail diesel price dipped 2.5 cents a gallon last week after six straight increases, the Department of Energy reported, even as gasoline rose 3.1 cents to set a new record high.

The cost to drive on the Indiana Toll Road rose for all vehicles with three or more axles, as well as two-axle vehicles that were not using the I-Zoom electronic tolling system, which debuted on the road last week.

Spot protests by truckers over high diesel fuel prices continued in several states Friday, news services reported.

General Motors Corp. may have to pay more to help parts supplier Delphi Corp. exit from bankruptcy after a private equity deal to inject $2.5 billion into Delphi fell through, the Associated Press reported Friday.