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Truck tonnage grew in March, but by the smallest year-over-year rate since December 2009, rising at a moderate 2.7% pace that is likely to be followed by similar results in the months ahead, American Trucking Associations said last week.

New orders for trailers continued at a strong pace in March, despite dropping 30% from a year ago, ACT Research Co., Columbus, Ind., reported, adding that total orders for the first quarter were down just 1% from the strong performance in the first three months of 2011.

Executives at three major truck stop chains said that they are installing diesel exhaust fluid pumps on fuel islands at all or most of their locations, which drop costs significantly for truckers, despite the current slow demand.

The 47-member House and Senate conference committee set up to produce a compromise transportation bill has scheduled its first meeting for May 8, but contentious issues have surfaced already that could delay or sink the effort.

UPS Inc. posted a 6% increase in first-quarter net income, boosted by the performance of its U.S. package operations.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Swift Transportation Inc. opposes the trucking industry’s lobbying efforts toward allowing heavier trucks on interstate highways in the United States, the company’s CEO told a gathering of Canadian trucking executives.

Eight of nine publicly traded trucking fleets reporting quarterly earnings last week achieved improved results, relying on either higher rates or volume increases, or both.

Retail diesel prices dropped by 4.2 cents a gallon to $4.085 last week — the second straight decline — after hitting the high point for this year, the Department of Energy reported.

Canadian transportation firm TransForce Inc. said its first-quarter profit improved, boosted by acquisitions.