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While politicians, Hill aides and lobbyists worked on or against legislation that would have allowed twin 33-foot trailers on the national highway system, manufacturers and their fleet customers took note, and the trailer makers busied themselves with improving techniques for stretching 28-foot pup trailers into 33-footers.

SAN ANTONIO — Finding talented diesel technicians these days requires the detective skills of Sherlock Holmes, while keeping them on the ranch is a challenge worthy of the greatest cowboy, truck dealer executives say.

Instead of waiting for diesel prices to rise, truck makers and their suppliers should try to cash in on the environmental benefits of natural gas, experts said.

Engine maker Cummins Inc.’s remote diagnostics application is now available through Geotab’s telematics platform, the companies said in a joint announcement.

January’s Class 8 North American orders just cleared 18,000, down 48% year-over-year but within expectations as fleets’ ordering patterns shifted into a more typical range, analysts said.

DALLAS — Driver training on electronic logging devices will play an important role in the trucking industry’s transition to the federally mandated technology, an official with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration told an audience of carriers and technology providers.

Cummins Inc. said it has improved its ISX15 heavy-duty engine so it can go longer between cleanings of its diesel particulate filter.