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WASHINGTON — Concerns over the ongoing plight to park trucks safely is prompting a group of national and regional stakeholders to plan ways to improve parking availability, given a new Department of Transportation survey that found dire shortages in metropolitan areas.

Consumer confidence climbed more than forecast in August, reaching the second-highest level in eight years on more favorable views of the labor market.

Seven drivers earned trophies at the first National Truck Driving Championships in St. Louis and were recognized the best in a field of 266 drivers from 41 states in this Sept. 2, 1985, issue of Transport Topics.

Competition wasn’t as fierce 40 years ago as 171 drivers from 33 states competed in Indianapolis for what would become the National Truck Driving Championships in 1985.

Consumer confidence retreated in July as Americans’ expectations deteriorated to an eight-month low.

Consumer confidence slumped in July by the most since August 2011 as Americans grew less upbeat about prospects for the economy, employment and their finances.

In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed into law a bill allowing states to permit higher truck weights on interstate highways, and it’s worth remembering the reason for the measure – a national speed limit of 55 miles-per-hour had crimped productivity for the nation’s truck drivers.

Consumer confidence declined to a five-week low as Americans grew even more downbeat about the prospects for the economy.

Diesel’s national average price declined for the eighth consecutive week, dropping 3.2 cents to $2.782 per gallon, according to a report from the Department of Energy on July 20. The average price of gasoline fell by the identical amount.