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Maersk Inc., owner of the largest ocean carrier, has agreed to sell its chassis rental unit to private investment firm Littlejohn & Co., marking the latest step in the ownership of the chassis that drayage truckers use to deliver containerized cargo.

Four publicly traded less-than-truckload carriers have joined the ranks of fleets that improved fourth-quarter financial performance and signaled that prospects for continued growth are brightening.

LAS VEGAS — Terry Dotson never set out to be a truck salesman, but he was so good on the lot selling big rigs that he rose eventually to be chairman and CEO of Worldwide Equipment Enterprises Inc.

As members of Congress race to pass a federal highway reauthorization bill by the end of March, many shippers are throwing their support behind legislation that would give states the authority to allow truckers to carry loads up to 97,000 pounds on interstate highways — a change they say would cut shipping costs considerably.

Officials of brake manufacturer Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems said they are wrestling with the challenge of manufacturing and distributing replacement parts for a defective valve that could cause braking problems, which prompted federal and heavy-duty truck manufacturer recalls.

Both houses of Congress were scheduled to vote this week on separate transportation reauthorization bills that would provide highway spending of more than $41 billion annually.

Daimler Trucks’ fourth-quarter earnings before interest and taxes rose 5% to 422 million euros ($569.7 million), reflecting a 22% increase in worldwide truck sales, parent company Daimler AG said.

Third-party logistics firm RedStone Logistics said it has acquired Headhaul.com, a logistics services company. Terms were not disclosed.

Pacer International on Thursday reported a fourth-quarter profit, turning around a loss in the same quarter a year ago.