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Taking the steering wheel out of a driver’s hand may sound crazy in an era when traffic congestion and driver distractions are growing by leaps and bounds, but that’s exactly what Internet search giant Google and Volvo Trucks are working on, while the U.S. Department of Transportation is testing communications technology that could potentially link several vehicles in a series.

Fleet payment processing company WEX Inc., formerly Wright Express Corp., said its fourth-quarter profit fell on costs associated with the acquisition of Fleet One.

U.S. Bank said it has extended its long-term contract to provide electronic freight payment processing for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Fleet telematics provider Blue Tree Systems Inc. said it is introducing a portable version of its R:COM in-cab terminal to enable fleets to use the fleet management system in owner-operator and rental vehicles when adding capacity.

Qualcomm Inc., San Diego, said the unit that includes its in-cab wireless communications devices lost $3 million before taxes in its fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 30.

XRS Corp. said it has released a platform for fleet optimization and compliance that can run on more than 50 types of mobile devices.

Supply chain software company Robocom Systems International said it has acquired Munics Information Systems. Terms were not disclosed.

Asset-tracking provider Spireon Inc. said that it is testing a next-generation GPS device for its FleetLocate trailer-tracking platform and predicted the trucking industry will increase spending on technology this year.