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For 18 years, regulators have been wrestling with a congressional mandate to issue a rule prohibiting trucks from proceeding into railroad crossings unless there is adequate space on the other side to avoid getting trapped on the tracks.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Growth in North American sales will lead the global truck-making industry this year, as U.S. fleets are prospering along with their shipper customers in the manufacturing sector, economists said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Permanent repair kits for defective ATR-6 traction-relay brake valves are moving to truck makers, executives of Bendix Commercial Vehicle System said.

Gene Scoggins, president of the NationaLease truck-leasing organization, is retiring after 37 years in the transportation industry.

Most truck makers said they will make important announcements of new products this year at the Mid-America Trucking Show, including Peterbilt Motors Co.’s introduction of a new model.

North American truck makers installed 99,504 Cummins Inc. engines into new 2011 Class 8 trucks, slightly increasing the independent engine maker’s leading market share to 39.1% from 38.5% in 2010, WardsAuto.com reported.

TransForce Inc.’s fourth-quarter net income rose to C$41.7 million, or 41 cents a share, from C$34.8 million, or 36 cents, a year earlier, the Montreal-based trucking and logistics company said Wednesday.

TAMPA, Fla. — Lee Long, the maintenance director of Southeastern Freight Lines and new chairman of American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council, said his biggest interest is drawing more people into work as heavy-duty technicians.

Class 8 tractors have long been the standard for U.S. for-hire carriers, yet for certain service lines, even the most venerable of heavy-duty fleets are now buying Class 6 and 7 trucks and sometimes even smaller cargo vans.