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Grocery store chain Safeway Inc. reported a first-quarter profit but higher fuel costs raised expenses of running its truck fleet.

American Trucking Associations and the Virginia Trucking Association have launched a campaign opposing proposed tolls on Interstate 81 in Virginia. Darrin Roth, director of highway operations for ATA, said the two organizations decided to launch the campaign because there is a real chance Virginia may toll I-81.

Connecticut Democratic legislative leaders and Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) have reached a compromise deal on a 10-year, $2.3 billion transportation package that will not raise gas taxes or require tolls, the Associated Press reported.

DaimlerChrysler’s newly created Truck Group division posted a first-quarter operating profit of 426 million euros, down from 698 million euros a year ago, though the prior quarter included 276 million euros in settlement income.

Old Dominion Freight Line said Thursday its first-quarter net income rose almost 40% to $13 million or 35 cents a share, from $9.3 million or 25 cents a year earlier.

Canadian transportation firm TransForce Income Fund late Wednesday reported its first-quarter net income rose to C$22 million or 28 cents a share, up from C$13.9 million or 23 cents a year earlier.

Oil company profits rose to record levels in the first-quarter amid soaring energy prices, news services reported.

The number of U.S. workers filing initial unemployment claims rose by 11,000 to 315,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Original equipment manufacturers sold more heavy-duty trucks last month than ever before, moving 25,895 Class 8 trucks to U.S. buyers. The 26.2% sales jump over the strong March 2005 market level puts truck makers on a pace this year to break the record level of Class 8 U.S. sales set in 1999.

Crude oil prices fell for a fourth day and Senate Republicans offered a plan to give Americans $100 rebate payments and called for more oil drilling in Alaska.