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Faced with intense worldwide competition and a narrowing quality gap, tire makers are beginning to look beyond selling tires to distinguish themselves in the truck market.

Getting a flat can be more than just a hassle for truckers. Riding on a damaged or underinflated tire increases fuel consumption, causes excessive wear to treads and drives up operating expenses. Several companies are offering solutions.

The search for ways to reduce weights and increase payload is leading truckers to make changes where the rubber meets the road. And it appears there may be less rubber meeting the road.

If you think you’re seeing more tire debris along roads these days, you may be right.

Driving trucks at higher speeds make motor carriers more productive by getting the freight to its destination faster, the thinking goes.

The Mid-America Trucking Show is billed as “the largest trucking show in North America and the Western Hemisphere.” It is doubtful that any of the nearly 80,000 people who walked the million square feet of exhibit space would argue with that.

A tongue-in-cheek admonition of “for your eyes only” accompanied Kenworth Truck Co.’s unveiling of its advanced technology truck at the exhibition. The T2000-75 Aerodyne was packed with electronic and high-tech features that would make an astronaut envious.

Volvo wants to make truck shopping as easy as car shopping: The customer picks the vehicle from an option package with features and leaves the dealer with a comprehensive maintenance plan.

Freightliner Corp. rolled out a new “dual-fuel” engine that combines the clean operation of liquefied natural gas with the longer range of diesel at the truck show.

The recent upswing in diesel prices has truckers scrambling to find the fuel stops that offer the best deals, which can be a daunting task if they don’t use the right tools. But there is some relief..