Equipment Trailer orders drop, reflecting lengthy backlogs June 14, 2021 Trailer orders fell 39% to 8,800 units in May, according to preliminary data from ACT Research, reflecting lengthy backlogs extending into next year. “The sequential decline in net orders was…
Equipment Class 8 orders slow as 2021 build slots fill June 4, 2021 Class 8 orders cooled in May, reflecting the filling of build slots this year and OEMs’ reticence to begin taking orders for 2022. FTR reports preliminary figures of 23,600 Class…
Business Management Fleets challenged to take advantage of ‘perfect storm’: ACT May 27, 2021 Industry analyst ACT Research says while the economy, freight, and trucking indicators are all at or near record highs, there are challenges percolating beneath the surface. “Our heavy-duty forecast continues…
Business Management Trucking rates have never been better: ACT Research May 26, 2021 ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index pointed to the strongest rates in April since it began tracking the data, despite some easing of freight volumes. The supply-demand balance remained tight, ACT…
Equipment OEMS struggling ‘to turn orders into trucks’ amid supply shortages: ACT Research May 19, 2021 Class 8 orders marked a seven-month low in April, a reflection of a full 2021 backlog rather than diminishing demand, ACT Research reported. “As we’ve said for some time, commercial…
Equipment Trailer orders decline as build slots fill up May 18, 2021 Trailer order activity cooled in April, with ACT Research reporting preliminary orders of 14,400 units – less than half of March’s volume – but blamed it on lack of supply,…
Business Management Carriers enjoying ‘strongest freight market ever’: ACT Research May 13, 2021 Carriers are enjoying the strongest freight market ever, and there’s no quick solution to the supply chain issues that are keeping them from adding to their fleets. That’s the assessment…
Equipment Natural gas truck sales down in 2021: ACT April 30, 2021 Natural gas Class 8 truck retail sales have contracted 25% in the U.S. and Canada in 2021 through February, according to data from ACT Research. “Sales of natural gas-powered vehicles…
Business Management Business environment for heavy-duty trucks has never been better: ACT April 12, 2021 ACT Research reports the business environment for heavy-duty trucks “is about as good as any we have seen in 35 years of monitoring heavy-duty market conditions.” The list of things…
Equipment Record-setting demand for Class 8 trucks over past six months April 5, 2021 Class 8 truck orders continued to be strong in March, setting an unprecedented six-month streak of order levels above 40,000 units. Preliminary figures from FTR show March orders were down…
Business Management U.S. driver scarcity worsens: ACT Research March 19, 2021 Truck driver scarcity has reached a three-year high, according to ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index for February. Its Driver Availability Index read 23.6, down from 25 in January. (Source: ACT…
Business Management Stars aligning for higher freight rates March 12, 2021 Port backups, rising commodity prices, more government stimulus in the U.S., and new truck backlogs are combining to create a positive rate environment for truckers. ACT Research reported in its…
Equipment Trailer makers struggling to meet demand March 11, 2021 Demand for new trailers remained strong in February, with 24,200 orders placed, but the backlog continues to grow as manufacturers wrestle with supply and labor shortages. February’s preliminary net orders…
Business Management Carriers could achieve record profits this year: ACT Research March 5, 2021 Carrier profitability in the U.S. is expected to reach record levels this year, as the freight-generating sectors of the economy are the strongest, according to the Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest…
Business Management Fleets continue ordering trucks at ‘near-record levels’ March 3, 2021 Class 8 truck orders remained strong in February, with an impressive 44,000 units booked according to preliminary data from FTR. That was up 3% from January and 209% year-over-year, and…
