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Major suppliers of drivetrain components, brakes and suspension parts are following the lead of truck and engine makers by expanding production and distribution outside North America, while revamping existing operations to lower costs and develop new products.

American Trucking Associations launched a major initiative to meet the industry’s growing fuel-price crisis, supporting for the first time national truck fuel-economy standards.

Mexico’s principal trucking group said its members have lost more than $2 billion a year because the United States has refused to allow cross-border trucking as required by the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement and that it is seeking damages through arbitration.

Wholesale inventories fell 0.1% in March, led by a decline in crude oil supplies, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

Commercial vehicle component maker Accuride Corp. said Thursday it lost $11.7 million, or 33 cents a share, in the first quarter, compared with a loss of $1.9 million, or 5 cents, a year ago.

Air cargo company Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings said Thursday it lost $5.3 million, or 25 cents a share, in the first quarter, compared with a profit of $6.2 million, or 29 cents, a year ago.

Initial jobless claims fell by 18,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Logistics firm Expeditors International of Washington said its first-quarter profit rose 12% to $66.5 million, or 30 cents a share, from $59.3 million, or 27 cents, a year ago.

Express-1 Expedited Solutions said Thursday it earned $643,000, or 2 cents a share, in the first quarter, up from $461,000, or 2 cents, a year ago.