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WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats continued to spar over how best to address the nation’s road transportation needs, as the Senate and House moved on opposing paths.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee advanced the nominations of several other key administration officials to the full Senate on July 21, including the nomination of Deborah Hersman to lead the National Transportation Safety Board.

Harbor commissioners at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., are expected to approve a plan next month to spend $46.5 million in new grant funding from the state to fast-track the purchase of up to 500 new liquefied natural gas trucks, officials with both ports said.

Trucking groups hailed the decision by the National Conference on Weights and Measures not to proceed with proposals to regulate the temperature of retail fuel at the pump.

Wal-Mart Stores and UPS Inc. have separately pledged to support enterprise-wide reporting of greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the emerging relevance of the carbon accounting field to motor carriers.

U.S. retail diesel prices dropped 4.6 cents last week to $2.496 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported — the fourth straight decline — but rising crude oil costs will soon lead to a reversal of that trend, a department analyst predicted.

Vitran Corp. said Thursday its second-quarter income fell to $400,000, or 3 cents a share, compared with $4.6 million, or 34 cents, a year ago.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. said its second-quarter profit improved but its revenue fell on lower overall freight demand.

Canadian transportation firm TransForce Inc. said its second-quarter net income fell to C$18 million, or 21 cents a share, from C$19.3 million, or 22 cents, a year ago.