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The U.S. unemployment rate stayed at 10% in December, the same rate as November, the Labor Department said Friday.

When the drivers at Arrow Trucking received that message telling them to take their trucks to the nearest dealership, I hope all of them drove their trucks to their homes, unloaded all their gear and then called Arrow and told them to come pick up their truck.

We all have to hope that officials of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration really have their ears open when they hold their three public “listening sessions” later this month over their embattled hours-of-service rule for the nation’s truck drivers.

Truck driver Michael Hunt received the 2009 Highway Angel of the Year trophy from the Truckload Carriers Association on Dec. 30 before about 30,000 people at a college football bowl game in Boise, Idaho.

U.S. truck tonnage declined 3.5% in November from the corresponding month of 2008, but it still was the best year-over-year showing in 12 months, according to American Trucking Associations. Total tonnage grew 2.7% from October’s levels.

As part of its Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 program, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is introducing its new record-keeping system known as SMS, or safety management system.

Patriot Transportation Holding said its transportation group has been unsuccessful in renewing contracts with major customers who accounted for $10 million in revenue last year, or 11% of its total.

Oil prices fell Thursday following 10 days of gains, slipping almost $1 to $82.26 a barrel in early trading, Bloomberg reported.