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EL PASO, Texas — The Transportation Department’s pilot project allowing a limited number of Mexican carriers to access U.S. highways would not diminish security at the border, Michael Jackson, deputy secretary of °®¶¹´«Ã½land Security, said at a Feb. 23 press conference.

WASHINGTON — Advocacy groups and congressional leaders, citing safety concerns, questioned the Department of Transportation’s decision to allow Mexican trucks into the United States, and a key senator said she would hold a hearing on the issue.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Tuesday a new initiative with UPS Inc. to boost exports from U.S.-based small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The average national price of diesel fuel jumped 7.5 cents to $2.626 a gallon, while gasoline soared 12.2 cents from last week to $2.505, the Department of Energy said Monday.

Factory orders plunged 5.6% in January, the biggest drop in six years, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Fourth-quarter U.S. worker productivity rose 1.6%, matching the level for the full year but lower than originally estimated, the Labor Department said Tuesday.

Canadian firm Contrans Income Fund reported it earned C$7.8 million or 34 cents a unit, compared with C$6.3 million or 33 cents a year earlier.

Refrigerated truckload carrier Frozen Food Express Industries said Tuesday its fourth-quarter income fell to $3.4 million or 24 cents a share, from $6.4 million or 34 cents a year earlier.

Commercial vehicle component maker Accuride Corp. said Tuesday it earned $14.3 million or 41 cents a share in the fourth quarter, compared with $14.9 million or 43 cents a year earlier.

Swedish truck maker Scania AB’s Chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder may step down from his position this week, to be replaced by Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn, Bloomberg reported Monday.