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SAVANNAH, Ga. — Great Dane Trailers unveiled two major expansion projects for its operations in the Savannah area last week, officially opening the doors on its ninth manufacturing plant and breaking ground for an engineering and testing facility.

Customers ordered a net total of 21,800 new commercial trailers in February, a 4% drop from last February, ACT Research Co. reported, but manufacturers were confident it was just a temporary lull.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Permanent repair kits for defective ATR-6 traction-relay brake valves are moving to truck makers, executives of Bendix Commercial Vehicle System said.

Manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region expanded in March at the fastest pace in 11 months, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said Thursday.

Efforts to overcome the effect of defective brake valves supplied by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems are progressing, with Navistar Inc. reporting that all its trucks delayed for repairs have now been shipped.

North American truck makers installed 99,504 Cummins Inc. engines into new 2011 Class 8 trucks, slightly increasing the independent engine maker’s leading market share to 39.1% from 38.5% in 2010, WardsAuto.com reported.

Because storage limitations, concerns about theft and supply problems have altered the way trucking companies purchase tires, carriers, manufacturers and experts said the tool of choice for economically managing this valuable commodity is a contract that allows fleets to get what they need when they need it — at a preset price.

Improving North American trucks sales led parts maker Accuride Corp. to post a fourth-quarter profit but a net loss for the year, the Evansville, Ind., company said.