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BETHESDA, Md. — Law enforcement officers, government officials and trucking executives joined together to emphasize the dangers of driving aggressively around large trucks, particularly among younger motorists.

Many trucking fleets are continuing to buy automatic and automated manual transmissions during the recession, despite a premium of $4,000 to $8,000 over traditional standard manual transmissions, industry executives and manufacturers have said.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration should identify commercial truck and bus drivers who are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, and require drivers diagnosed with the condition to prove they are being treated, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended last week.

The average U.S. price of diesel jumped more than 10 cents a gallon and gasoline rose nearly as much last week, while petroleum closed above $81 a barrel on national commodities markets for the first time in more than a year.

The Port of Long Beach and American Trucking Associations last week reached an out-of-court settlement of ATA’s federal lawsuit challenging portions of the port’s Clean Trucks Plan. The agreement will simplify the registration process for carriers moving containers at the port.

An index of leading economic indicators rose 1% in September, marking the sixth straight increase, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

Initial jobless claims climbed last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. said Thursday that Douglas Oberhelman will become its chief executive officer in July 2010.

Ryder System said Thursday its third-quarter profit fell to $24 million, or 43 cents a share, from $70.2 million, or $1.24, a year earlier.

Union Pacific Corp.’s third-quarter profit fell 26% to $517 million, or $1.02 per share, from $703 million, or $1.38, a year ago.