ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

HANOVER, Germany — DaimlerChrysler AG officials labeled as "pure speculation" a German newspaper report that Rainer Schmueckle, chief executive officer of the company's Freightliner LLC truck unit, would soon leave his post to take an accounting job at the company's Mercedes-Benz automobile division.

George Billows, executive director of the Illinois Trucking Association, told Transport Topics on Wednesday the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority agreed to lower the new tolls it planned to charge truckers with electronic transponders, except during rush hours.

With the federal deadline fast approaching for states to begin fingerprinting hazardous materials drivers, industry officials said it may already be too late for all states to launch the program on time.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Technology and Maintenance Council said it would develop three new Recommended Practices to serve as guidelines for fleets interested in learning more about forward collision and lane departure warning systems as well as roll stability systems.

FedEx's Profits More Than Double • NRF Expects Strong Holiday Shopping Season • Government to Help Repair I-10 Bridges, Airport in Florida • Great Dane Adds 150 Jobs to Meet Orders

Housing Starts Rise 0.6% in August • USIG Teams With LINCedge • Port of L.A. Executive Director Resigns

HANOVER, Germany – DaimlerChrysler AG's commercial vehicles division had a record first half this year, as its North American brands drove the world's largest truck maker's sales and profits, according to Eckhard Cordes, who heads the division.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it asked a federal appeals court on Monday to keep new hours-of-service rules for truck drivers because a return to the old rules would be "unprecedented" and "unnecessary."

The average retail price for diesel fuel in the United States rose 3.8 cents per gallon to a record $1.912, the Department of Energy reported Monday.