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New commercial trailer net orders jumped 59% in May from the same month last year, ACT Research Co. reported, adding that the market was “continuing a healthy rebound from a very weak 2009.”

SmartTruck, a company founded by aerospace engineers, has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for trailer attachments that it said could improve over-the-road fuel efficiency by up to  11% and that it soon would begin manufacturing them.

Trailer maker Wabash National Corp. said it has begun production on 350 new refrigerated van trailers for Frozen Food Express Industries, to be completed by September.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Obama administration is spending money on freight rail projects to bolster its push for high-speed intercity passenger rail.

April trailer orders rose 3% from 2009 levels, and the backlog at trailer factories working to fill those orders rose to its highest level in 20 months as demand for equipment continued to exceed build rates, ACT Research Co. reported.

The Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association named Jeff Sims to succeed Richard Bowling as the group’s president, effective July 1.

Trailer Bridge Inc. lost $308,000, or 3 cents a share, in the first quarter, compared with a loss of $768,000, or 6 cents, a year ago.

Trailer orders in March soared 165% over the comparable month of 2009, ACT Research Co. reported last week, as the strengthening economy and the brighter picture for the freight industry drove fleets to boost orders over dismal year-ago levels for the sixth month in a row.

Norfolk Southern Corp. reported that its first-quarter profit rose 45% from a year ago.

Canadian freight railroad Canadian Pacific’s first-quarter net income jumped 74% to C$99.8 million, or 59 cents per share, from C$57.3 million, or 36 cents, a year earlier.