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LAS VEGAS — Growing concern about global warming will help trucking’s push for longer and heavier vehicle limits, an issue that may be gaining “buoyancy” in Congress, ATA President Bill Graves said recently.

Contract talks between the Teamsters union and representatives of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload freight carrier began Oct. 1 with representatives of both sides indicating a desire to secure an early agreement.

Vermont leaders expressed dismay at an effort by the Bush administration to oppose new state rules designed to reduce vehicle carbon emissions, amid growing concern the rules will be rejected by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Associated Press reported.

UPS Inc. said Monday Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Eskew will step down at the end of the year and be replaced by Scott Davis, the company's vice chairman and chief financial officer.

The Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference said it strongly opposes an “abhorrent” clean-air plan proposed by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif. and will sue to block the program if the ports try to implement it, the IMCC told the Federal Maritime Commission.

A bill introduced last week by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) would provide tax credits for fleets purchasing trucks with certain types of safety technology.

Consumer confidence declined this month, according to a preliminary monthly report by the University of Michigan, released Friday.

Business inventories rose just 0.1% in August, while sales fell 0.4%, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Executives of U.S. Xpress Enterprises said Friday they completed their planned purchase of the truckload carrier, for $20.10 per share.