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The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.8% annual rate in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Standing amid a fleet of trucks powered by liquefied natural gas, President Obama last week said he would propose tax credits for carriers who buy trucks powered by the fuel.

Five publicly traded truckload carriers have reported higher quarterly earnings, helped by higher rates and improved productivity.

LAS VEGAS — Manufacturers of truck components and parts meeting here bristled at the Obama administration’s regulatory policies, calling them onerous and difficult to comply with, while the president of American Trucking Associations said his industry probably will not get what it craves most this year, a new, comprehensive federal transportation plan.

LAS VEGAS — Domestic trucking should continue to benefit from a decent economy this year and into 2013, and truck makers are looking at steady global economies — with the crucial exception of Europe, economists and analysts said here at a heavy-duty industry meeting.

Manufacturers and sellers of heavy-duty trucks will take stock of industry and the economy at the annual American Truck Dealers Association meeting in Las Vegas, Feb. 3-6.

The 2010 technology power plants and the new emissions systems represented such a dramatic break from the past that only technicians certified by original equipment manufacturers have been able to work on them while they are still under warranty, truck dealers said.

President Obama last week directed the departments of State and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøland Security to develop a plan to protect against interruptions in the international supply chain.

Trucking industry officials and employment experts said fleets can maximize the contributions from an aging workforce through specialized training and altering certain job tasks and hours.

A five-year transportation reauthorization bill that would provide around $250 billion for projects and safety programs is expected to be unveiled this week by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.