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In the news this morning: Volvo expects Mitsubishi accord to stay in place after DaimlerChrysler deal; VW renews talks on Scania; and General Mills, Pillsbury form alliance with others to share trucks.

Class 8 truck sales continue to outpace 1999 figures for the second straight month, but an analyst says a two-thirds drop in new orders suggests manufacturers are still working off their backlogs.

From high fuel costs to a tight labor pool, there’s no shortage of reasons to be pessimistic about the state of the truckload industry. But these tough times may help the more-established carriers.

State legislators are trying to ease the pain of high diesel and gasoline costs by removing state taxes from the fuel price equation.

This afternoon's headlines: Georgia to consolidate most motor vehicle services into one agency; UPS Logistics Group opens maquiladora center in Texas; and Port truckers gather in Washington for Teamsters demonstration

The Information Technology and Logistics Council is preparing for what members say will be a great conference even as staff members pack boxes and prepare to close up shop, leaving the future of the council in question.

In the news this morning: Senate committee to review STB rail merger ban; Muffler for compression brakes wins tech award; and VW looking "very closely" at possible commercial vehicle acquisition.

Members of the Truckload Carriers Association voted March 22 to reject a plan to integrate the 63-year-old organization with American Trucking Associations by a vote of 213-206.

This afternoon's headlines: Most new Interstate 70 overpasses in St. Louis will fall below height standards; Meritor establishes Web exchange for truck aftermarket; and Interstate Bakeries drivers strike spreads.

In a move heralded by industry analysts as a possible turning point for the beleaguered truckload segment, six of the nation’s largest truckload carriers last week agreed to combine their logistics operations into a new Internet-based transportation logistics company called Transplace.com.