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RENTON, Wash. — In the struggle to squeeze a few more miles out of each tank of fuel, truck makers are designing tractors with the aid of computer models and wind tunnels more generally used to tweak race cars or airplanes.

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association and Original Equipment Suppliers Associations are discussing the plight of the automobile industry with President Obama’s administration, the Treasury Department and members of Congress as the federal government advances plans to disburse funds from emergency financial relief legislation approved last year.

Mobile Communications and software provider Xata Corp. received a $3.1 million influx of cash from a pair of venture capital funds, the company reported Friday.

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

Last January, our company launched an “instructor-of-the month” program. We began by inviting directors of truck-driver training programs to nominate individuals, and then we interviewed the winning instructors.

Transport Topics Online will be closed Monday for the Presidents’ Day holiday. Please check back on Tuesday, Feb. 17, for the latest trucking and freight transportation news.

UPS Inc. and the U.S. Postal Service have agreed to work together to make it easier for consumers to return goods purchased online, a move that more closely aligns the nation’s mail delivery system with the largest commercial package carrier.

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell (D) has proposed spending $200 million for highway bridge repairs, plus $27 million to increase freight capacity for railroads, one of which plans to build an intermodal terminal in Pittsburgh.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kevin Knight, chief executive officer of Knight Transportation, touted trucking’s efforts in recent years to become more environmentally friendly, and said the industry should work to improve its green message to the public.