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Your story on the demise of RigMaster comes as no surprise in a sector of the truck market that has seen a drastic downturn of new business, mostly exacerbated by tightening of credit markets (2-9, p. 4).

American Trucking Associations said last week it was unveiling a new trailer for use in its image and outreach programs.

Transportation technology firm TransCore said Monday that it has launched a customer support and information Web site catered to trucking companies using Class 8 trucks.

PeopleNet, Chaska, Minn., said Feb. 24 it launched its tethered trailer-tracking system, known as Trailer ID.

Mobile communications provider Xata Corp., Minneapolis, said Feb. 24 it had integrated ALK Technologies’ CoPilot Truck navigation system into its Xatanet and MobileMax software.

U.S. consumer confidence declined this month, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region contracted in February for a fifth straight month, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Friday.

The U.S. economy contracted 6.2% in the fourth quarter of 2008, the largest contraction since 1982, the Commerce Department said Friday in its second of three estimates.

A change in presidential administrations — indeed, a broad shift in Washington’s political atmosphere — has provoked a change in how trucking presents its messages to federal politicians and staffers.