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UPS Inc. said Tuesday it had expanded its fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles by adding 50 new hybrid electric delivery trucks.

A Senate proposal that would set fuel-economy standards for heavy- and medium-duty trucks conflicts with a current push to reduce engine emissions and would not work without additional research, representatives of the truck manufacturing industry said.

Truck and engine makers said they were pleased with new guidelines on selective catalytic reduction technology issued by the U.S. EPA, despite some concerns.

Auto and truck parts supplier Commercial Vehicle Group said its first-quarter profit fell by 78% to $3 million or 14 cents a share, from $13.4 million or 62 cents last year.

Trucking companies are concerned that new emissions rules in effect this year are hurting mileage and their bottom lines, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

Trucking company failures jumped in the first quarter of 2007, and industry observers warned of tougher times ahead because of an uncertain economy, weak freight loads and rising fuel costs.

The Supreme Court’s ruling that the EPA must reconsider its position to leave “greenhouse gas” emissions from motor vehicles unregulated could lead to increased costs for trucking companies.

Crude oil futures fell lower Thursday after Iran released 15 British sailors it had held for two weeks, Bloomberg reported.

Crude oil futures prices declined Wednesday after Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that he will release 15 captured British sailors, news services reported.