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A new program at the Port of Charleston should mean cleaner air and save trucking companies money on fuel, the Associated Press reported.

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved California’s new limits on refrigerated trailers entering and operating inside the “Golden State,” giving truck owners and drivers about five months to prepare before enforcement hits July 17.

What the federal stimulus package does for road transportation and job creation may be more piecemeal than grand, but whether it’s filling potholes or replacing a crumbling bridge, it’s heartening to contemplate the flurry of construction activity that is about to sweep across the land.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said the country should move quickly to a vehicle-miles tax but meanwhile should raise fuel taxes significantly, al-though the higher taxes shouldn’t take effect for at least two years.

A pair of California residents have pleaded guilty to defrauding dozens of truckers and brokers of at least $2.4 million in an Internet load-board fraud scheme that included hacking into the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Web site.

The Environmental Protection Agency will require onboard diagnostics systems on at least one engine family per manufacturer starting in 2010.

While much of the debate on the upcoming highway bill will focus on funding issues, a senator charged with overseeing the safety portion of the legislation said recently that “the status quo is simply unacceptable.”

SALTILLO, Mexico — Daimler Trucks North America dedicated its $300 million Freightliner plant here Feb. 27, as Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon, joined company officials to formally launch the new 1.3 million-square-foot facility.

As cash flow becomes tighter for many fleets, more are turning to financial services that pay invoices almost instantly. Trucking and financial executives said that while the service known as “factoring” can be beneficial, once a fleet gets started, it can be hard to stop. As a result, they recommend carriers understand the full scope of services offered and costs involved.