ECONOMIC WATCH: ACT Research increasingly bullish on commercial vehicle market

COLUMBUS, Ind. – ACT Research has increased its commercial vehicle forecast across the board in October. “Central to our growing bullishness on current activity translating into the next up-cycle are…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Trailer orders surge, but does strength have legs?

COLUMBUS, Ind. – U.S. net trailer orders totaled 28,319 units, a 49% improvement from July and up 160% year-over-year, ACT Research reports. “Conversations in recent months have indicated a change…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Trucking benefiting from K-shaped recovery

COLUMBUS, Ind. – It’s a K-shaped economic recovery, according to ACT Research, but fortunately trucking is on the upper half of the K. “What this means is that a large…

Indicators point to strengthening trucking market

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Covid-19 brought on the worst recession in U.S. history, but the recovery is underway and economic conditions should return to pre-Covid levels by late next year. Jim…

ACT Research seminar explores equipment demand, Covid impact and economic recovery

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Covid-19 pandemic may accelerate medium-duty truck penetration, while slowing electric vehicle adoption. Those were a couple observations shared at ACT Research’s recent three-day virtual seminar. “Whether…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Class 8 orders hit nine-month high

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Class 8 orders hit a nine-month high in July, according to the latest data from ACT Research. “Despite the economy still operating well-below pre-pandemic levels, freight rates…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Strengthening freight markets drive stronger truck orders

BLOOMINGTON & COLUMBUS, Ind. – Truck orders stormed back in July, with Class 8 orders marking the strongest month since October 2019 and Classes 5-8 orders reaching a six-month high.

ECONOMIC WATCH: Surging Covid cases could derail economic recovery

COLUMBUS, Ind. – An escalation of new Covid cases in the U.S. is threatening to abort a nascent economic recovery currently underway, industry analyst ACT Research warns. In its Transportation…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Driver shortage, low truck production to push up spot market rates

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The U.S. CARES Act is incentivizing laid-off truck drivers to stay home, and creating a driver shortage, which is pushing up spot market rates. That’s according to…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Truck orders bounced back in June

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Class 8 truck orders spiked to 16,000 units in June, reflecting a rapid freight rate improvement, according to preliminary data from ACT Research. Orders surged 139% from…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Trailer orders remain at historic lows

COLUMBUS, Ind. – May trailer orders improved from April, but were still the second weakest month ever, reported ACT Research in its State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report. Net…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Rates at risk as unemployed drivers return

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The U.S. freight market has stabilized, but excess capacity could put a rate rebound at risk, according to ACT Research. The industry analyst published the June installment…

ECONOMIC WATCH: May Class 8 orders remained subdued

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Preliminary data from FTR and ACT Research point to May Class 8 orders of 6,600 and 6,700 units respectively, marking continued subdued activity from fleets. May orders…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Class 8 production to drop 66%, ACT predicts

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Class 8 production this year will plummet about 66%, according to a prediction from industry analyst ACT Research, published in its North American Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine…

Freight indicators suggest the worst is in trucking’s rearview mirror

TORONTO, Ont. – The worst of trucking conditions wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic may be in the rearview mirror, but the recovery could be choppy. In its most recent Commercial…