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Navistar International Corp. profits fell 92.7% from a year earlier during the company’s fiscal first quarter because of continuing low levels of truck sales, but the Warrenville, Ill., manufacturer also presented plans it said eventually would boost annual revenue to $20 billion when the economy improves.

Shippers of shoes are protesting price increases of up to 50% for less-than-truckload shipments after an industry standards body changed the classification of 2 billion pairs of shoes, allowing carriers to raise rates.

GE Capital is taking over the role of lead lender to support the purchase of International trucks, as Navistar International Corp.’s in-house finance captive withdraws from the retail market to concentrate on wholesale activities to support dealers, the two companies said.

Truck availability has tightened sharply in recent weeks as steadily growing freight demand draws even with total truck capacity, which shriveled during the recession, industry experts said.

February orders for new Class 8s gained 12% from a year earlier and were 20% above an eight-year low in January, research firm FTR Associates reported last week.

The Mexican government is preparing to change the list of U.S. products that will be subjected to higher tariffs in retaliation for the continued lockout of that nation’s truck fleets, sources told Transport Topics last week.

The Transportation Department announced last week it will drop some materials, including paint and diesel fuel, from the list of substances the agency considers dangerous enough to require hazmat motor carriers to file detailed security plans.

Despite a challenging freight environment over the past year, the 2010 Mid-America Trucking Show organizers said industry optimism may be rising. They cited an anticipated increase in the number of exhibitors and attendees for the March 25-27 show.

A proposed federal rule that triples to $3,000 the annual registration fee for large hazardous materials motor carriers but maintains a fee of $300 for small carriers places an unfair burden on large carriers, American Trucking Associations and National Tank Truck Carriers said in written comments opposing the new rule.

The average price for retail diesel rose for a third straight week, this time by 4.3 cents to $2.904 a gallon, to the highest level since November 2008, the Department of Energy reported.