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State transportation departments desperate for money to pay for projects took steps toward imposing new tolls or increasing existing ones in 2011, often inviting disdain from the trucking industry.

The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill to create a national freight program that its sponsors said would boost America’s global economic competitiveness, improve its mobility and promote energy conservation.

The federal government’s regulatory agenda held trucking’s attention throughout 2011, with proposals including a requirement for electronic onboard recorders on all trucks — and a plan to revise hours-of-service rules for truck drivers.

Truck driver turnover is increasing steadily and exceeding pre-recession levels at both large and small truckload fleets, propelled by a combination of higher freight volumes and tighter regulations, industry experts have said.

Heavy-duty U.S. truck sales continued their robust expansion in November, jumping 77% from the same month in 2010 and surging past the 57.7% growth rate for the year’s first 11 months, according to a Dec. 12 report from WardsAuto.com.

Federal regulators last week took initial steps to clarify procedures that have created uncertainty as to whether motor carriers, intermodal equipment providers, brokers and freight forwarders can pay a civil fine for violations without admitting guilt or liability.

Patrick Quinn, 65, a co-founder of the nation’s third-largest truckload carrier who rose from a small Nebraska farm to national positions of trucking industry leadership after opting out of a corporate legal career, died Dec. 13 at his home near Chattanooga, Tenn., succumbing to brain cancer.

FedEx Corp.’s net income climbed 76% in its fiscal 2012 second quarter, helped by a third consecutive profitable quarter at the freight unit and higher earnings at the ground and express businesses.

The overall size of the U.S. Class 8 fleet continued its downward slide since peaking in 2008, R.L. Polk & Co. said in its latest report, which showed the number of U.S. Class 8 vehicles in operation fell 4.2% in the third quarter.

Three new projects, featuring transloading between trucks and trains, are being developed to tap the growing demand to transport crude oil generated by recent energy development efforts, according to separate announcements.