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Most trucking companies are expected to post a fifth consecutive quarter of better earnings because freight volumes and rates are rising, but sharply higher fuel prices likely will put a dent in the increases, analysts said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 40th Mid-America Trucking Show here grew by more than 7% from 2010 in terms of visitors and exhibitors, but fell short of establishing new records in either category.

Fueled by stronger manufacturing and demand for freight, the U.S. economy will grow at least at a 3.2% annual pace in 2011, and truck tonnage will rise 5%, according to several recent reports.

The number of people employed in trucking rose 3% in March, compared with a year ago, to a seasonally adjusted 1.27 million, the Department of Labor reported April 1.

American Trucking Associations last week endorsed a federal proposal that trucking companies use electronic logging devices to monitor driver compliance with the hours-of-service rule.

A patent-holding company has filed suit against more than 200 motor carriers, alleging those fleets infringed upon a patent it holds by using certain tracking and communications systems in their trucks, according to court documents.

The total number of people killed in traffic accidents in the United States in 2010 declined 3% from a year earlier, despite the fact that Americans drove about 20.5 billion more miles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported.

The diesel-price spike continued last week, as the U.S. retail average rose another 4.4 cents to $3.976 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported.

Oil prices continued to spike Friday, jumping $2.49 to finish the trading week over $112 a barrel on continued concerns over Libya’s civil conflict, Bloomberg reported.