ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

Paccar Inc., the parent of Kenworth Truck Co., will temporarily shut down production at Kenworth’s Chillicothe, Ohio, plant, the Chillicothe Gazette reported.

Truckload carriers Western Express and Smithway Motor Xpress Corp. said Friday that Western would acquire Smithway for $10.63 per share, in a deal worth about $90 million.

The Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday approved an amendment that would prevent Mexican trucking companies from gaining unrestricted access to U.S. highways until American truckers are afforded the same access in Mexico.

Existing home sales rose 3.9% in February, the most in three years, the National Association of Realtors said Friday.

LAS VEGAS — Qualcomm Inc., GE Trailer Fleet Services and Sky-Bitz, three of the largest providers of trailer-tracking technology, each announced new customers and product expansions and enhancements here last week.

LAS VEGAS — Truckload carrier executives and industry observers here said almost uniformly there has been a slight rebound in freight demand in recent weeks, but they were unsure whether a significant pickup would occur in the second half of the year.

Driver turnover at large truckload carriers dropped 13% last year — the first decline since 2001 — while it rose by an identical percentage at smaller truckload carriers, according to American Trucking Associations.

The trucking industry is willing to pay higher fuel taxes as long as the money is spent to improve the highway infrastructure, American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With sales of heavy trucks expected to drop sharply from last year, OEMs and suppliers at the Mid-America Trucking Show shifted tactics, emphasizing new features and markets in an effort to keep customers interested.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — The head of truck and engine maker Navistar International Corp. said its 2007 models are more fuel efficient and perform better than 2006 models, in addition to being cleaner burning.