Supply chain technology firm Intermec Inc.

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region grew in July, showing expansion for the tenth straight month, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Friday.

Supply chain technology firm Intermec Inc. said its fourth-quarter net earnings were $5 million, or 8 cents per share, compared with $9.3 million, or 15 cents, a year ago.

For more than a decade, the trucking industry has called for an overhaul of the Department of Transportation’s safety fitness measurement and rating systems. Fortunately, DOT heard these calls and soon will implement its new system – Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010. CSA 2010’s measurement component will be rolled out in July 2010; the rating component will be implemented after a future rulemaking process is completed.

Supply chain technology firm Intermec Inc. reported a second-quarter loss of $6.5 million, or 11 cents a share, down from a profit of $7.7 million, or 13 cents, a year ago.