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ATLANTA — The future of autonomous trucks is further down the road than people believe, but final-mile delivery by robots is closer to larger use, said Steve Banker of ARC Advisory Group, giving his assessment of future disruption at the SMC3 Jump Start conference.

Trucking groups prepared their drivers with tips on operations and safety as a polar vortex gripped the Midwest, delivering extremely cold temperatures and harsh wind chills.

The advent of ELDs is influencing how carriers and shippers work together to control costs, deploy capacity, design networks, offer and charge for services, make capital investments, recruit and assign drivers and leverage new technology.

Self-driving truck startup Embark has issued a voluntary report on the performance of its automated trucks, providing a more detailed look at its testing process and the current capabilities of its technology.

LAS VEGAS — Fleet executives are standardizing parts ordering and maintenance procedures as they deal with truck equipment that is increasingly complex and costly.

Paccar Inc. reported record revenue in the fourth quarter and, excluding one-time benefits, higher net income. Annual revenue and net income set records, too, as it delivered 189,100 vehicles worldwide in 2018.

LAS VEGAS — Truck makers are wrestling with how to invest in automation, electrification and traditional powertrains — all at once. Additionally, more trailers will use telematics to relay diagnostic information and secure parts while new relationships will form between suppliers and technology startups, according to experts at the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue.

FoodMaven, which provides an online marketplace for oversupplied, out-of-spec and local food, has closed a $10 million round of funding, the Colorado Springs, Colo., startup said.

FedEx Corp., looking beyond Amazon.com Inc. for growth in e-commerce, is introducing a new late-night shipping option for retailers who want to speedily send orders directly to online customers.