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Third-quarter earnings rose sharply at four publicly traded truckload companies, as they were able to accelerate the pace of rate increases in a steady freight market.

PHOENIX — To pay down some of the debt incurred to build its new Capitol Hill office complex, American Trucking Associations is offering members the chance to purchase commemorative pavers on the building’s rooftop patio.

USA Truck Thursday reported a $600,000 profit in the third quarter, compared with a $1.6 million loss a year ago.

American Trucking Associations said it has hired Mary Phillips as its new senior vice president of legislative affairs.

A strong surge by Freightliner Trucks helped lead heavy-duty U.S. retail truck sales to a 21% increase in September, the ninth straight month of improved Class 8 sales from last year, WardsAuto.com reported.

Integrated Freight has acquired refrigerated truckload carrier Bruenger Trucking Co. for $11 million, the companies said.

Used-truck dealers, facing a dearth of late-model, low-mileage vehicles after large fleets drained the market earlier this year, shopped aggressively in August, pushing sales up 55% from year-ago levels, according to industry sources.

Following recent rate increase announcements by three major less-than-truckload carriers, industry experts said the LTL sector has turned the corner toward profitability, with shipment volumes, tonnage and rates all improving, but not yet soaring.

HANOVER, Germany — The magic word at last week’s opening of the world’s biggest truck show seemed to be “survival,” as various manufacturers congratulated themselves and their remaining competitors for having survived the worst economic times since the end of World War II.