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WASHINGTON — Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), a key transportation legislator and a longtime opponent of increasing truck sizes and weights, told Transport Topics he would now support a pilot study of larger vehicles on U.S. highways.

On Oct. 20, American Trucking Associations, in conjunction with “Road Safe America,” a group of nine trucking companies, submitted a petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted truck tonnage index fell 3.6% in January following an increase in December, ATA said Tuesday.

Tank truck carrier Quality Distribution’s fourth-quarter profit was $6.2 million or 31 cents a share, compared with $6.2 million or 32 cents for the previous fourth quarter.

Volkswagen AG has boosted its stake in German truck maker MAN AG to 29.9% from 20%, as part of an effort to create Europe’s largest truck maker in a combination including Swedish competitor Scania AB, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

The Ontario Trucking Association said Tuesday that an apparent diesel fuel shortage in the province was causing concern to truckers.

Rack-and-pinion steering, which has become commonplace in passenger vehicles and light trucks, is now getting its first trial in heavy-duty trucks.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — The president of the Long Beach Harbor Commission said a licensing system would be “up and running within five years” at his port and the neighboring Port of Los Angeles to ensure all trucks entering the facilities meet strict emission standards.

Truck manufacturers and dealers said they are carrying out the most extensive training program ever to prepare technicians to service and repair the new 2007 engine technology, emphasizing the new diesel particulate filters.