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The U.S. average price of diesel inched higher last week, rising 0.4 cent to $3.078 a gallon and keeping trucking’s primary fuel at over $3 a gallon for the fourth week in a row, the Energy Department reported.

UPS Inc.’s less-than-truckload unit is headed for a return to profitability in 2010 as part of a companywide increase in earnings, which jumped 32.9% in the first quarter, officials said last week.

Truck maker Navistar Inc. has dropped its lawsuit in state court alleging that the California Air Resources Board planned to adopt the Environmental Protection Agency’s formal “guidance” as its policy for the use of selective catalytic reduction technology to meet federal 2010 diesel engine emissions reduction standards.

Oil rose almost $1 Friday to close the trading week near an 18-month high over $86 a barrel, Bloomberg reported.

Canadian transportation firm Mullen Group’s first-quarter net income fell to C$23.7 million or 29 cents per share, from C$31 million, or 38 cents, a year ago.

Universal Truckload Services’ first-quarter profit rose to $2.1 million, or 13 cents per share, from $100,000, or 1 cent, a year ago.

U.S. consumer confidence fell this month, but was higher than previously estimated, according to the latest Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday. 

Manufacturing activity levels in the Chicago region expanded in April at the fastest pace in five years, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Friday.

Intermodal rail traffic rose 15.1% last week from the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.