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The chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board had a few choice words criticizing the slow pace the nation has taken in adopting proven technologies to make trucks safer.

United Parcel Service, the nation’s largest trucking company and the biggest railroad customer in the country, has pulled more of its freight off the former Conrail lines in the East that are now operated by Norfolk Southern and CSX railroads, saying they again are experiencing unacceptable delays.

Be warned: The federal government is rearranging Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, trucking’s safety rule book. A thoroughly revised book will make its debut “soon,” in government time — a draft is due to go public sometime this fall.

What do Newt Gingrich, Mike McCurry, Arnold Palmer and Wynonna Judd have in common? They will all be appearing at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 in Orlando, Fla.

American Trucking Associations and the Kansas Motor Carriers Association — with support from J.J. Keller & Associates and Mack Trucks — sponsored Terry Cook behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet Silverado in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 275, part of the Nascar Craftsman Truck Series.

Navistar says it can make a diesel engine that runs cleaner than one powered by compressed natural gas, and can far exceed federal environmental standards proposed for 2010.

Cummins Engine Co. is replacing a longtime staple of its product line with a new model that will meet stricter federal emissions standards.

Creditors of bankrupt Preston Trucking Co. filled a room last week at the U.S. Trustee’s office in Baltimore to question the three principals on the less-than-truckload carrier’s demise.

Insurers say the technology motor carriers may use to become safer is great, but truckers shouldn’t expect any rebates on insurance rates for adopting the equipment.