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A group of state legislators and officials from the Portland area are studying a plan to eliminate exit tolls from the southern half of the Maine Turnpike and allow motorists to drive for free within regions.

In the late 19th century, as today, many people thought that technology would solve mankind’s problems. This was the era when electricity became a modern power — the first electric motors were developed by such men as Elihu Thompson, Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison and Hiram Maxim, who became better-known for developing the machine gun.

Trailer shipments in 1999 will reach about 302,000, topping the record set in 1998 by almost 8%, according to a survey.

Sales of Class 8 trucks through November remained strong despite reports of falling orders in October that led one manufacturer to lay off workers recently. The 11-month total for 1999 hit 238,489, crushing the record of 209,483 set in 1998 and keeping pace to reach 260,000 for the year.

As the Teamsters’ strike against Overnite Transportation Co. lumbered into its eighth week, union organizers launched two new offensives designed to keep pressure on their adversary.

After listening to a two-hour briefing on proposed ergonomics rules, tougher diesel emissions standards and changes in driver hours of service, a top federal transportation official had just one question for the staff experts at American Trucking Associations: “What does it all mean in terms of increased cost to shippers?”

Truck drivers and other transportation workers will find it harder to cheat on drug and alcohol tests if a new Department of Transportation proposal takes effect.

Increasing losses from cargo theft are leading insurers to raise rates and crack down on shippers and carriers that leave trailers unguarded in high-crime areas.

A steep, industrywide decline in orders for new trucks has spurred Volvo Trucks North America to lay off 400 of the 725 employees hired during 1999 at its recently expanded plant in Dublin, Va.