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This was a year of generally steady, but modest, gains for the economy as a whole — and trucking in particular — as detailed in this issue of Transport Topics.

Truck tonnage rose 1% in November year-over-year, as Superstorm Sandy nudged the freight index higher after de-pressing demand in October, American Trucking Associations reported.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Trucking companies participating in the annual “Wreaths Across America Day” hauled thousands of Christmas wreaths that will lie on veterans’ headstones during the holiday season.

Retail diesel prices continued to decline last week, falling 4.6 cents to $3.945 a gallon, while gasoline prices fell to their lowest level of the year, the U.S. Department of Energy reported.

U.S. retail truck sales and freight tonnage — two key barometers of the industry’s health — moved in opposite directions in November, and for different reasons.

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted last week to raise tolls for trucks and cars on its six bridges and two tunnels, effective March 1.

While the attention of the nation was focused for much of the year on the costly and protracted presidential election campaign, trucking probably will look back on 2012 as a turning point for the adoption of natural gas as a viable alternative fuel for heavy-duty fleets.

Epes Logistics Services said Friday it has acquired Cargo Masters Inc., a freight transportation and logistics firm based in Charlotte, N.C. Terms were not disclosed.

Consumer confidence fell to a five-month low in December, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index released Friday.