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More Illinois truckers will be have to retake portions of their commercial driver license tests because of a bribery scandal involving state employees that just won’t go away.

Norfolk Southern and CSX Corp. continued to be plagued by late trains, congested yards and other service problems last week, despite their hopes that the Independence Day holiday would allow them to catch up on deliveries.

The price of diesel rose 1.5 cents through the week leading up to the Fourth of July holiday, hitting $1.102 a gallon. The national average reported July 5 marked the fourth consecutive week of increases and took fuel to a 17-month high, nearing the $1.109 average posted Jan. 19, 1998.

Industry groups have asked California to declassify diesel exhaust particulates as a toxic air contaminant, and the state agency in charge of air quality has indicated a willingness to at least listen to the latest arguments from trucking.

Members of the Teamsters union voted by a 4-1 margin to ratify a four-year contract with unionized carhaulers, ending a negotiation process that began in February.

Trimac Transportation prepared to expand its operations between the United States and Mexico by acquiring an 80% interest in Amer-Liquid Transport of Brownsville, Texas, and signing a deal to do business with the bulk transporter’s former owner.

Why are today’s trucking stocks priced so low? One analyst says they are paying for the failed expectations of the mid-90s, perhaps undeservedly. But he indicated that conditions may be right for them to soar again.

American Trucking Associations operates just like every other business in the industry: It provides services in return for payments it receives from its customers. Unlike its commercial brethren, ATA isn’t looking to record profits to return to its owners and stockholders. But it does seek to provide services and to break even financially.

I recently went on a run with my husband in an 18-wheeler, and it came to my attention that some people look down on truck drivers. They don’t realize what the truck driver has to go through. I’d like to take this opportunity to explain it to you.

It is almost Shakespearean: Norfolk Southern and CSX, set to divide Conrail, ignored the warnings of three rattled spirits labeled UP, SP and CNW, and, for their hubris, were brought low. Out. Out. Damned computer glitch!