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WASHINGTON — The House Thursday approved a bill that would require states to update their highway bridge inspection standards and perform annual inspections of structurally deficient bridges.

Eastern freight railroad Norfolk Southern Corp. said its second-quarter profit rose 15%, as higher revenue per shipment offset an overall drop in traffic and record fuel prices.

Vitran Corp. said Wednesday its second-quarter profit fell 16% to $4.6 million, or 34 cents a share, from $5.5 million, or 41 cents, a year earlier.

Arkansas Best Corp. said Wednesday its second-quarter profit fell 17% to $16.2 million, or 64 cents a share, from $19.6 million, or 78 cents, a year ago.

Truckload carrier Knight Transportation’s second-quarter profit fell to $12.7 million, or 15 cents a share, from $18.2 million, or 21 cents, a year ago.

The House approved a bill by a lopsided margin Wednesday that would restore $8 billion to the federal Highway Trust Fund to avert an expected revenue shortfall in the coming fiscal year.

U.S. economic activity remained generally weak in June and early July, and several regions reported trucking companies were having a hard time recouping higher costs, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.

Canada’s two biggest freight railroads reported downturns in their second-quarter profits, Bloomberg reported.

Heavy equipment and diesel engine maker Caterpillar Inc. said Tuesday its second-quarter profit rose 34%, led by international demand.