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Drayage truckers are struggling with complex record-keeping requirements in the new federal intermodal chassis maintenance rules that have begun to take effect, industry experts said.

House Democratic leaders said they hoped to pass a controversial cap-and-trade bill late last week, despite vocal protests by Republicans who said the complex legislation amounts to a large tax increase and needs more time for debate.

Trucking stocks have rallied over the past four months despite the sour U.S. economic conditions, but the recent rise in shares is a fragile one, analysts warned.

The U.S. average diesel price rose 4.4 cents a gallon last week to $2.616, the seventh straight weekly increase that has pushed it up by 43.1 cents to the highest level in nearly eight months.

The world’s largest ocean container shipping company, Maersk Line, said it will begin charging leasing fees to local truckers who use their intermodal chassis, which traditionally have been free.

WASHINGTON — House transportation leaders appeared isolated last week, as several prominent senators endorsed a bid by the Obama administration to postpone working on a major surface transportation-funding bill until 2010.

U.S. consumer confidence rose this month for the fourth consecutive time in June, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

Consumer personal spending rose 0.3% in May, the Commerce Department said Friday.