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As fuel prices have skyrocketed, trucking companies have been forced to look closer at other parts of their businesses to trim costs.

The California Air Resources Board has confirmed to Transport Topics that Mack Trucks Inc., Cummins Inc. and Volvo Trucks North America have received certification that their heavy-duty engines meet California’s nitrogen oxide emission standards, providing users an exemption from the state’s five-minute idling regulation.

Your front-page article April 7 about auxiliary power units possibly saving on fuel quoted an APU maker’s spokesman who stated (like many others I have seen) that idling truck engines use up to 1.8 gallons of fuel an hour.

An unprecedented wave of exports, mostly to Russia, has cushioned a downturn in the Class 8 used-truck business, which has been hurt by high fuel prices and a weak freight market, according to industry executives.

Diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. said Tuesday it opened its first fuel systems manufacturing site outside of North America, the Cummins Fuel Systems Wuhan plant, in China.

Accuride Corp., a maker of wheels, chassis parts and seat assemblies for commercial trucks and trailers, said it will form a joint venture with Benecor Inc. to distribute diesel exhaust fluid, or urea, at truck stops, fuel stations and fleet locations.

Diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. Wednesday unveiled two new auxiliary power unit systems that are compliant with new California Air Resources Board idle-reduction regulations.

The Opinion column by John Hausladen, “Be Ready to Explain Your SAFER Scores,” is an excellent reminder to fleets about how important the Safety and Fitness Electronic Record System score is — and, how it can be misinterpreted by those uninformed about the industry.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Uncertainty about the life cycle of key emission control components and higher maintenance costs have emerged as the top concerns fleets have with 2007 heavy-duty diesel engines, maintenance and equipment heads at several major carriers said here.

Westport Innovations said Tuesday that Wal-Mart Stores will introduce four liquefied natural gas-fueled Peterbilt 386 trucks at its distribution center in Apple Valley, Calif.