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The Department of Transportation’s move to conduct a broad test of opening the U.S.-Mexican border to truck traffic is a prudent step toward honoring mutual commitments made by both nations when the North American Free Trade Agreement was ratified.

OTAY MESA, Calif. — U.S. Department of Transportation officials said they would be interested in a potential study of larger or heavier trucks, suggested recently by the chairman of the House transportation committee.

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 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.

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.

The U.S. economy’s service sector growth declined in February, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday.