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The U.S. Department of Transportation has published a proposed rule that would toughen its workplace drug-testing program for truck drivers and other transportation workers, including testing for the drugs “ecstasy” and heroin.

TAMPA, Fla. — A major truck-making executive and the chairman of American Trucking Associations offered differing views on the future of trucking, but both agreed that federal regulation of business is generating unwelcome distortions of how firms can operate.

Trucking and intermodal leaders are pressing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to change two key safety reporting steps before the agency’s delayed chassis safety rule finally takes effect on June 30.

DULLES, Va. — For Dennis Halsey, it was a return trip nearly a decade in the making.

The record-breaking blizzard last week, the second massive storm in a week to hit the mid-Atlantic region, caused Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania to close highways for at least part of Feb. 10, and forced trucks to park and delivery schedules to absorb delays.

Transportation software firm Xata Corp. said it lost $1.7 million, or 20 cent per share, in its fiscal first quarter, compared with a loss of $672,000, or 8 cents, a year ago.

Forward Air Corp. said its fourth-quarter profit fell to $6.4 million, or 22 cents per share, from $8.3 million, or 29 cents, a year ago.

American Trucking Associations said it has hired Rob Abbott as its vice president of safety policy.

P.A.M. Transportation Services reported a fourth-quarter loss of $3.9 million, or 42 cents per share, compared with a loss of $11.4 million, or $1.19, a year earlier.