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The Motor Freight Carriers Association and the Teamsters have teamed up to develop an industrywide training program to combat sexual harassment, aided by a $100,000 grant from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Six months ago, Lana Batts said she wouldn’t have dreamed of being an executive for an Internet portal. But now she's executive vice president for Transportal, an Internet service she said is designed to help her former constituents operate more efficiently.

In the news this morning: Fiat still interested in Volvo purchase; VW buys stake in Scania; and New York revokes suspect CDLs.

This afternoon's headlines: Republicna congressman says EPA used $1 billion engine settlement to cover for years of lax enforcement; ESCO president plans rapid expansion; and Fleet-tracking firm At Road files for IPO.

The national average price of diesel fuel dropped this week for the first time in seven weeks, to $1.479 cents a gallon, on expectations that oil-producing countries will agree to produce more petroleum.

The Teamsters gathered port truckers from across the country for a rally in the Capitol to protest high fuel prices and poor working conditions.

This afternoon's headlines: AceFusion.com rolls out logistics management site; Trucking companies work to cut fuel costs; and Sections of I-10/610 in Louisiana to be closed for weekend roadwork.

Overnite Transportation and the Teamsters met again March 23-24, this time in Kansas City, Mo., even as the union announced plans to step up its strike campaign and the company boasted of improved services and profits.

A bill that would have created a weight-distance tax in Maryland – and placed an extra $225 million tax burden on trucking – has gotten the legislative ax.