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WASHINGTON — Several lawmakers, Department of Transportation officials and experts have  expressed concern with elements of a vehicle miles traveled tax, which some advocates tout as a replacement for the fuel tax. They also cautioned that a transition to VMT could be a slow process.

Representatives of several high-tech firms said they already are marketing, or soon will offer, systems designed to prevent motorists from texting and talking on cell phones while driving their vehicles.

Tolls could rise as much as 85% for trucks traveling across the Blue Water Bridge into Canada from Michigan as the state proposes to raise its rates higher than what Canada charges to make the reverse trip.

The heavy-duty U.S. truck fleet contracted slightly in the third quarter, shrinking back to its size in the first quarter of 2009, but used-truck sales volumes strengthened in the quarter, according to a Nov. 17 report by R.L. Polk.

Navistar Inc., which said it has spent $600 million to develop its 2010 exhaust gas recirculation engine, said the company is losing sales of next year’s model because federal regulators “helped create the false impression” among customers that only urea-based after-treatment systems would meet 2010 federal emissions standards.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Whenever truckers think times are tough in their industry, they might want to consider ocean shipping, where the estimated losses this year could top $20 billion, shipping officials here said.

The Federal Railroad Administration said the fuel efficiency of the freight-rail industry rose 22% between 1990 and 2006, and that when compared to trucks in similar routes and distances, is between 1.9 and 5.5 times more fuel efficient.

The Surface Transportation Board has approved an application by 10 small drayage carriers serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., to pool some of their operations and purchases of fuel, equipment and materials.

U.S. truck tonnage fell 5.2% in October, yet posted the best year-over-year performance since November of last year, as analysts said signs of a lasting economic recovery were uneven.

Retail diesel prices edged lower again last week for the third consecutive time, while gasoline prices rose, the Department of Energy reported.