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Wabash National Corp. said the number of fleets committed to testing its new Cold Chain Series refrigerated van trailer made with molded structural composites is now at four with the addition of Leonard’s Express.

The owner of Lakeville Motor Express, a company that in recent years has operated as a cartage agent for Minnesota-based regional less-than-truckload carrier LME Inc., said he has shut down the business due to “heavy financial losses” and operational difficulties, including “the inability to hire drivers.”

The average used Class 8 truck sold in October entered the resale market with lower mileage than those sold a year earlier, but its sales price was down about 14% due to soft demand and an excessive inventory of unsold vehicles, analysts said.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. completed its purchase of a 65% interest in China-based Qingdao Ge Rui Da Rubber Co., Ltd. under terms that were previously announced, the company said.

A sharp decline in registrations of new trucks is taking the air out of what has been a remarkably robust period of growth in the size of the nation’s Class 8 fleet.

The reintroduction of medium-duty models from three manufacturers will reconfigure that segment of the commercial truck industry, especially in the lighter weight classes.

ATLANTA — The upcoming federal electronic logging device mandate will spur a dramatic increase in technology adoption next year, but implementation could be messy as many carriers continue to wait as long as possible before installing the devices, analysts and technology vendors said.

Many fleets are using technology that monitors tire pressure or automatically adds air as a way to improve fuel efficiency, extend tire life and prevent expensive roadside service calls, but these systems also could play an important role in the industry’s efforts to curb emissions in the years ahead.