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The freight-trailer industry rebounded sharply during 2010, with orders more than doubling to 166,500 and shipments rising 52% over 2009 to 119,900 units, ACT Research Co. reported.

Two transport issues left over from the last Congress are moving in different directions on Capitol Hill in the early days of the current congressional session.

Rick Snyder, Michigan’s new governor, is forcefully pushing to accomplish what his predecessors failed to do — building a second bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, the busiest freight crossing in the United States.

Many of the maintenance professionals who keep U.S. truck fleets running smoothly will focus their attention on wider dissemination of the motor freight industry’s recommended engineering practices at the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting in Tampa, Fla.

Customers bought used Class 8 trucks at such a fast pace last year that they swept dealer lots nearly clean, triggering shortages expected to last for several years and pushing prices up as much as 30%, according to dealers and analysts.

Truck tire manufacturers have raised prices up to 12% in recent weeks, citing materials costs, while concern is mounting about future supplies after the sudden rise in new tractor and trailer sales.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week proposed requiring nearly all interstate commercial motor carriers to install electronic data recorders to monitor their drivers’ hours-of-service compliance.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 9% in January, the lowest in almost two years, from 9.4% in December, the Labor Department said Friday.

YRC Worldwide Friday reported fourth-quarter net income of $23.1 million, or 49 cents per share, though it lost $322 million, or $8.13 per share, for the full year.

Echo Global Logistics has announced plans to introduce new transportation management software that is tailored to the needs of large shippers who do not have their own systems.