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Heavy-duty truck manufacturers have improved the fuel efficiency of their tractors through a combination of new technologies, powertrain improvements, enhanced aerodynamics and efforts to reduce rolling resistance.

The first three trucking companies to report second-quarter earnings last week said a combination of lower fuel costs, higher rates and cost controls produced double-digit profit improvements.

Satisfaction with model-year 2011 trucks suffered as a result of technology added to comply with 2010 federal emissions regulations, which resulted in customers’ reporting more problems with the trucks, a recent J.D. Power and Associates’ survey found.

UPS said it has completed testing of its “plastic truck,” a composite-bodied vehicle that’s lighter and uses 40% less fuel than its current package cars, and will soon add 150 of the new vehicles to its delivery fleet.

Three new projects, featuring transloading between trucks and trains, are being developed to tap the growing demand to transport crude oil generated by recent energy development efforts, according to separate announcements.

The truck driver shortage and related fleet capacity constraints are driving strong growth in domestic intermodal hauling as carriers and shippers try to ensure they have freight-moving options in the months ahead, industry experts said.

An expert hired by the Canadian Trucking Alliance is disputing claims made by the Canadian renewable fuels industry that diesel fuel buyers would save dramatically if the federal government proceeds with a proposed biodiesel mandate on July 1.

WASHINGTON — The first-ever proposed federal commercial truck fuel-efficiency and carbon emissions standard could cause an industry pre-buy before it becomes effective in 2014, or drive motor carriers to delay retirement of their fleets, a transportation consultant said.