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TUCSON, Ariz. — Executives with two of the nation’s largest motor carriers said freight demand has jumped so fast in recent months that some sectors are having difficulty finding trucks to transport their goods. 

The chairman of American Truck Dealers said the trade group will add more attention to medium-duty lines at its annual convention and exposition, scheduled for April 23-26 in Kissimmee, Fla.

A key Pennsylvania legislator has suggested the state toll a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 95 as part of a broader plan to fill a large transportation funding gap.

WASHINGTON — Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, proposed borrowing $130 billion from the Treasury Department to finance a new highway bill, which could be repaid through an increase in the federal fuel tax increase.

Trucking companies should consider altering the ways they levy and maintain fuel surcharges or risk additional red ink from diesel and gasoline costs this year, industry consultants and analysts advise.

Transportation leaders of the United States and Mexico have taken steps toward resolving the countries’ trade dispute, which was sparked by the end of a cross-border trucking program and led Mexico to place tariffs on more than $2 billion in U.S. goods.

The U.S. average retail diesel price rose another 5.4 cents a gallon last week to $3.069, raising concern among fleet executives and analysts alike that the steady rise could dampen economic growth. 

Class 8 U.S. retail truck sales gained 9.8% in March, driven by very strong performances by three original equipment manufacturers, the third month in a row that sales have increased, after falling every month in 2009.

U.S. consumer confidence held fell this month to its lowest level in five months, according to the latest Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.