ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Dealer executives bubbled with optimism as they exited their respective truck-brand meetings here at the American Truck Dealers conference.

Any commercial carrier accident involving personal injury or property damage has lawsuit potential, and the public is usually quick to blame the truck driver.

Canadian transportation firm Mullen Group’s first-quarter net income fell to C$23.7 million or 29 cents per share, from C$31 million, or 38 cents, a year ago.

Universal Truckload Services’ first-quarter profit rose to $2.1 million, or 13 cents per share, from $100,000, or 1 cent, a year ago.

U.S. consumer confidence fell this month, but was higher than previously estimated, according to the latest Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday. 

Manufacturing activity levels in the Chicago region expanded in April at the fastest pace in five years, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Friday.

The U.S. gross domestic product rose at a 3.2% annual rate in the first quarter, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Intermodal rail traffic rose 15.1% last week from the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.

A shipper may hire a truck for any of a variety of reasons: Perhaps there is a long distance to cover or the load requires more space than available in the trunk of a car.