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TUCSON, Ariz. — The Transportation Intermediaries Association said it intends to release its version of a model contract for freight brokers and carriers on May 1, despite objections from trucking industry officials who said it doesn’t do enough to protect the rights of carriers to collect unpaid freight charges from shippers.

Crude oil prices continued soaring Friday, topping $75 a barrel for the first time, Bloomberg reported.

The number of truck-involved highway fatalities rose 0.7% to 5,226 in 2005, the third straight yearly increase, according to preliminary figures released April 20 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The California Air Resources Board approved a plan Thursday to reduce air pollution caused by ports, rail lines and roads in the state, the San Jose Mercury-News reported.

Logistics firm Billings Transportation Group sold two of its divisions and will stop operations in Lexington, N.C., the Associated Press reported Friday..

UPS Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter profit rose 11% to $975 million or 89 cents a share, from $882 million or 78 cents a year earlier.

Truckload carrier Landstar System Thursday reported a record first-quarter profit of $24.4 million or 41 cents a share, up from $16.8 million or 27 cents a year earlier.

Freight railroad Union Pacific Corp. said Thursday that its first-quarter profit more than doubled, to $311 million or $1.15 per share, from $128 million or 48 cents a year earlier.

Covenant Transport said late Wednesday it lost $884,000 or 6 cents a share in the first-quarter, compared with a $649,000 or 4-cent loss a year earlier.

Truckload carrier Knight Transportation reported a record first-quarter profit of $15.8 million or 18 cents a share, up from $12.8 million or 15 cents a year earlier.