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Many of the maintenance professionals who keep U.S. truck fleets running smoothly will focus their attention on wider dissemination of the motor freight industry’s recommended engineering practices at the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting in Tampa, Fla.

Customers bought used Class 8 trucks at such a fast pace last year that they swept dealer lots nearly clean, triggering shortages expected to last for several years and pushing prices up as much as 30%, according to dealers and analysts.

Truck tire manufacturers have raised prices up to 12% in recent weeks, citing materials costs, while concern is mounting about future supplies after the sudden rise in new tractor and trailer sales.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week proposed requiring nearly all interstate commercial motor carriers to install electronic data recorders to monitor their drivers’ hours-of-service compliance.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 9% in January, the lowest in almost two years, from 9.4% in December, the Labor Department said Friday.

YRC Worldwide Friday reported fourth-quarter net income of $23.1 million, or 49 cents per share, though it lost $322 million, or $8.13 per share, for the full year.

Echo Global Logistics has announced plans to introduce new transportation management software that is tailored to the needs of large shippers who do not have their own systems.

Pitt Ohio is rebranding the freight company to emphasize its broad range of services by dropping the word “Express” from its name and adding a new logo.

There were more signs of the trucking industry’s resurgence last week, as a number of publicly-held fleets reported improved earnings, while analysts said trailer and used trucks sales surged during 2010.