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U.S. fuel prices continued their steep three-month declines last week, even as the cartel of oil-producing nations announced a record cut in production in an attempt to lift global oil prices in 2009.

President-elect Barack Obama is expected to name retiring Illinois Republican U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood to be his transportation secretary.

The California Air Resources Board has adopted two new rules requiring carriers to add expensive emission-control devices to their trucks and to use fuel-saving equipment endorsed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program.

The world of trucking was turned upside down and shaken like a snow globe during 2008.

Manufacturing levels in the Philadelphia region improved from a month ago but remained in contraction, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said Thursday.

An index of leading economic indicators fell 0.4% in November, marking the fifth downturn in seven months, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

Third-party logistics company and freight broker Hub Group said its full-year 2008 earnings will be lower than previously estimated, due to sluggish intermodal and brokerage volumes and pricing.

Onboard recording devices are the future. Successful use of these devices . . . does not eliminate cheating on the logs, in spite of anything Joan what’s-her-name thinks. Ask any driver [at a company that uses them].

Election day has come and gone, and regardless of political persuasion, the optimist in each of us hopes President-elect Barack Obama’s administration heralds an uplifting and more positive era of government.