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U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who earned praise for focusing on distracted driving and criticism from trucking for appearing to promote biking and high-speed rail over freight issues, announced last week he was stepping down.

It’s nice to hear from the new chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that he recognizes what dire straits the Highway Trust Fund is in and that he’s open to all suggestions as to how to fix it.

The new chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said he remains open to any option that can increase the amount of federal funding available for highway projects, including the possibility of raising the federal fuel tax.

Spurred by the demands of newer diesel engines, changing emissions technology and escalating competition, truck-stop operators say they have begun placing more fuels and other products where drivers can find them fast and buy them with a single swipe of a credit card.

Used Class 8 truck sales declined in December from a year earlier as vehicle prices increased and average mileage trickled lower, according to ACT Research.

UPS Inc. posted a $1.75 billion fourth-quarter loss tied to pension costs, but CEO Scott Davis forecast 2013 earnings could improve, along with the U.S. and global economies.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has waived the federal hearing standard for 40 deaf or hard-of-hearing people who want to get commercial driver licenses, the agency said Friday.

U.S. manufacturing activity rose in January, the Institute for Supply Management said Friday.

The Federal Reserve Wednesday said it was holding a key interest rate at a record low as “economic activity paused in recent months.”