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As if skyrocketing fuel prices in 2008 were not enough, American trucking companies are now in the midst of the worst recession since the early 1980s.

With fuel prices going down, including diesel, truckers are still shutting down and still saying they aren’t making money — proving my own view that the problem is other than fuel prices.

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) is exploring ways to use a mileage tax and satellite technology to pay for roads, instead of a fuel tax, the Albany (Ore.) Democrat-Herald reported Saturday.

Southern California port officials and state environmental regulators continued pressing their campaign to reduce heavy-truck diesel emissions, approving several controversial measures during 2008 that some truckers said will lead to severe economic hardships.

Diesel engine maker Cummins Inc.’s emissions subsidiary will lay off about 100 workers at a Wisconsin plant, effective immediately, because of the slumping North American truck market, the company said.

U.S. fuel prices continued their steep three-month declines last week, even as the cartel of oil-producing nations announced a record cut in production in an attempt to lift global oil prices in 2009.