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With fuel prices at a record and the economy teetering at the brink of a recession that could cut into carrier revenue, some truckload carriers are pushing harder for savings by using lighter trailers, limiting idling to save fuel and shortening trade-in cycles.

Citations issued by the California Air Resources Board for engine emission control labels that are missing or have been tampered with now carry penalties of as much as $800, the agency said.

Long Beach officials last week put finishing touches on a sweeping, unprecedented set of rules aimed at dramatically cutting emissions from the 17,000 drayage trucks working at the huge California container port, rejecting the plan’s most controversial feature that would have forced independent owner-operators to work for larger carriers.

Truckload carrier Knight Transportation said it has taken delivery of its 1,000 tractor certified to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2007 emission standards.

Towne Air Freight said it acquired Synergy Cargo Logistics, which will give Towne a greater presence in the southwestern United States. Terms were not disclosed.

Transport Topics does a service to its readership with its continuing coverage of environmental regulations, and the Jan. 21 issue is no exception.

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.

Truck buyers for some of the nation’s largest fleets are already contemplating their choices for the January 2010 generation of heavy-duty truck engines. Their challenge is matching the original equipment manufacturers they like with one of the two main technologies upon which the OEMs will rely.