������ý

With the availability of so many recently discharged veterans, many of whom have operated heavy vehicles, and the need for qualified drivers, one would think that Washington would find a way to expedite the marriage of the availability with the need.

“Hi. We’re from the government, and we’re here to help you.” Not buying it? Well, that seems to be the logic behind the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s filing in federal court last week, defending the agency’s decision to modify the 34-hour restart provision of the new hours-of-service rule.

The total number of people killed in traffic crashes jumped 9% in the first half of 2012 to 16,290, the largest increase in first-half fatalities since the federal government started tracking the statistic.

Consumer confidence rose in September, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index released Friday.

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago area contracted for the first time in three years, the Institute for Supply Management-Chicago said Friday.

Celadon Trucking Services said it has agreed to buy operating assets of Ohio truckload carrier Robinson Transport.

Personal spending rose 0.5% in August, the Commerce Department said Friday.

TOOELE, Utah — Navistar’s choice of exhaust gas recirculation over selective catalytic reduction to comply with U.S. emissions rules failed not because of the technology, but because the company had no partners in the effort, said Jim Hebe, Navistar’s senior vice president for North America Sales Operations.