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Intermodal traffic grew at the fastest pace in nearly three decades during 2010, and the combination of a strengthening economy and tightening truck capacity will spark further growth this year, the Intermodal Association of North America reported.

Seven of the eight publicly traded less-than-truckload carriers reported improved financial performance in the fourth quarter, as pricing and tonnage gained across the industry, giving hope for better 2011 results.

Trucking industry leaders in both Canada and the United States applauded an agreement between the two nations to spend the next two years streamlining and coordinating the plethora of agencies and regulations that govern security and freight movement at their border.

Members of the trucking industry will have their first opportunity to make an in-person case for preserving the current hours-of-service rules on Feb. 17 when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducts a listening session in Arlington, Va.

TAMPA, Fla. — Less than a month after the federal government proposed replacing nearly all driver logbooks with electronic onboard recorders, technology companies here said that smooth enforcement will be impossible until law enforcement agencies adopt more technology.

Cummins Inc. maintained its market-share lead in Class 8 engines during 2010, although Detroit Diesel Corp. grabbed a bigger portion of the market, according to WardsAuto.com.

Continuing cold weather across much of the United States and Europe and political unrest in Egypt helped push domestic fuel prices higher. The average retail cost of a gallon of diesel rose 7.5 cents to $3.513 a gallon last week.

The 700-member Truckload Carriers Association plans to oppose a proposed federal mandate requiring the use of electronic onboard recorders because there is no evidence that the technology will improve highway safety, the association’s president said.

January orders for new Class 8 trucks skyrocketed 320% to 27,000 from the year-ago level, a clear sign that the industry will enjoy a stronger 2011, two research organizations said last week.