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Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) revived proposals to suspend a portion of the federal motor fuels tax in order to help truckers and motorists cope with out-of-control fuel prices.

Small carriers planning to grow quickly should hire owner-operators rather than buy new trucks and grapple with driver shortages, according to a panel addressing small carrier issues.

Freight brokers have always walked a tightrope in their efforts to serve the needs of shippers and carriers, but the old attitudes of distrust toward them are giving way to acceptance.

Federal regulators and industry lobbyists could soon be clashing over mandatory driver training, but for now trucking’s leaders worry while government officials remain mum.

In the news this morning: Louisiana panel nixes high overweight truck fees; Seattle mulls electronic truck enforcement to ease traffic congestion; and Paccar to bolster its online presence.

This afternoon's headlines: Deutsche Post sticks to IPO plan despite EU probe; Koch Petroleum to provide soybean-based biodiesel to bus, truck fleets; and Landstar System moving Ligon subsidiary to Jacksonville, Fla.

The federal government unveiled a plan to give truck owners an economic incentive to retrofit older diesel engines with equipment that will bring their emissions in line with today’s pollution standards.

Federal officials are starting to worry about the ability of diesel engine manufacturers to live up to the stipulations in a 1998 consent decree that sets stricter pollution standards for model year 2003 engines.

Trucking companies and driver training schools opened hailing frequencies with each other during a landmark March 17 meeting organized by two national driver training groups.

The Professional Truck Driver Institute is heading into uncertain waters as its president departs for the private sector, and the organization develops a plan to stand on its own two feet.