Preliminary net trailer orders plummeted more than 12,500 units from March to April, a contraction of about 57%. At 9,400 units, order intake was nearly 32% lower compared to April 2024, according to ACT Research. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this... Read Story

April preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes increased 8.6% m/m, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.“Used truck buyers did not let... Read Story

Entering 2025 in an already weakened state, newfound economic uncertainty has only added to our expectation of yet another challenging year for for-hire carriers and the commercial vehicle industry, as published in the latest release of the ACT... Read Story

April preliminary North America Class 8 net orders of 7,600 units declined m/m and y/y. Complete industry data for April, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-May.“Between the end of the industry's annual ‘order... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the Class 8 average retail sale price rose by its largest percentage since March 2022, gaining 5.6% m/m in March.“On a y/y basis, prices were 6.0% lower... Read Story

With 20%-25% of U.S. surface freight involved in international trade, tariffs are set to extend the for-hire freight recession. While recessionary effects of the trade war are still to come, ACT Research expects higher cost equipment as a result of... Read Story

Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 16,500 units in March, down 5.9% y/y, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.“While uncertainty and a weak seasonal period have made parsing the tea leaves... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders jumped about 3,800 units from February to March, an expansion of 21%. At 22,100 units, order intake was up a whopping 63% compared to March 2024. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the annual order cycle raises... Read Story

Since President Trump’s inauguration, he, his administration and Congress haven’t wasted any time propelling a new agenda for transportation regulations, ACT Research contends. On day one, Trump issued an executive order, Unleashing American Energy.... Read Story

March preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 16,000 units, down 8.3% y/y. Complete industry data for March, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-April.“The first quarter of 2025 has been defined by one... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the Class 8 average retail sale price fell by its largest percentage since June 2024, giving up 6.2% m/m in February.“On a y/y basis, prices were 13% lower... Read Story

February net trailer orders, just below 18.2k units, were down 17% from January and 13% below the level accepted in February 2024, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.“Net orders are signaling... Read Story

Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 17.9k units in February, down 35% y/y, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.“Economic uncertainty, fueled by the current administration’s policy/behavior... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders dropped about 3,700 units from January to February, a contraction of 17%, according to ACT Research. At 18,000 units, order intake was down about 14% compared to February 2024. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in... Read Story

February preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes built on January’s strength, adding 12% m/m, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT... Read Story

February preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 18,300 units, down 34% y/y. Complete industry data for February, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-March.“After the strong end to 2024, the past two... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the Class 8 average retail sale price was essentially flat m/m in January, at $57,371, or 0.1% higher m/m.“On a y/y basis, prices were 2.9% lower,” said... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders dropped about 3,100 units from December 2024 to January 2025, but at 21,300 units, were higher compared to January 2024, up more than 51% y/y, according to the latest data from ACT Research. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at... Read Story

January preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes increased 16% m/m, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.“The new year got off to a... Read Story

Continued healthy activity for heavy vocational trucks since September’s order explosion suggests some level of prebuying has begun on top of strong end market demand as work truck buyers look to get ahead of the EPA’s 2027 Clean Truck regulation and... Read Story

January preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 25,800 units, down 30% m/m and 5% y/y. Complete industry data for January, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-February.“While January orders took a step... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the Class 8 average retail sale price floated higher in December, to $56,865, or 0.5% higher month over month.“On a y/y basis, prices were 2% lower,” said... Read Story

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated slower growth in freight volumes outweighed the slight contraction in capacity in December.The Volume Index decreased 1.0 point in December to 51.0, seasonally adjusted (SA), from 52.0 in... Read Story

Winter weather is driving significant spot activity in January, but the supply response in the past couple of months has been considerable, according to ACT Research's latest report on the Freight Market. While lower Class 8 supply over the past... Read Story

December net trailer orders, at 24.3k units, were up 17% from November, but about 3% below the level accepted in December 2023, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.“This brings full-year 2024... Read Story

Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 36.8k units in December, on very strong tractor demand, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.“Despite generationally weak profits in for-hire, large fleets... Read Story

In September, the industry reported an all-time best month for heavy vocational truck orders at 20,000 units (NA, NSA). Over the three months ending November, 38,100 orders were booked, which seasonally adjusts to a 146,900-unit annualized rate, as... Read Story

December preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes finished 2024 strong, surging 23% m/m, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.“Looking... Read Story

December preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 36,500 units, slipping 2.1% m/m but up 39% y/y. Complete industry data for December, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-January.“Strength continues to be... Read Story

ACT Research releases a number of key reports and outlooks that affect the equipment finance industry throughout the month. This is a top-line roundup of December's key observations. N.A. Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK Economy - Based on the second... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the Class 8 average retail sale price ticked up $230 in November, translating into a 0.4% m/m bump.“On a y/y basis, prices were 4.4% lower,” said Steve Tam... Read Story

November net trailer orders, at 20,800 units, were up 23% from October, but 4% below the level accepted in November 2023, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.“November’s trailer orders bring... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders rose about 4,000 units from October to November, but at 20,500 units, were lower compared to last November, down 4% y/y. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the annual order cycle lowers November’s tally to 15,000... Read Story

November preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes held steady, slipping 1.3% m/m, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.“Given that... Read Story

The Volume Index increased 7.4 points in October to 56.9, seasonally adjusted (SA), from 49.5 in September. The rebound in volumes m/m may be tied to recent port and hurricane disruptions, but broadly speaking, freight demand trends are gradually... Read Story

October net trailer orders, at 16,900 units, were up 40% from September, but 52% below the level accepted in October 2023, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.“Cancellations moved lower in... Read Story

The truckload market is fairly balanced as 2024 nears an end, but it is changing, according to the latest release of the Freight Forecast: Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report from ACT.“Currently, with a significant capacity contraction by for-hire fleets... Read Story

Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 30,600 units in October, with ongoing strength in the vocational market, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.“Vocational truck orders totaled 9.5k units... Read Story

October preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes increased 29% month over month, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.“Following the... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders rose roughly 4,800 units from September to October, but at 16,900 units, were lower compared to last October, down 52% year over year, according to a new report from ACT Research. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point... Read Story

October preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 30,600 units, down 5.2% year over year. Complete industry data for October, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-November.“After a strong start to the... Read Story

October preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 30,600 units, down 5.2% year over year. Complete industry data for October, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-November. “After a strong start to the... Read Story

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index suggests growth is making its way into the for-hire market. The Volume Index decreased 5.0 points in September to 49.5, seasonally adjusted, from 54.5 in August. Carter Vieth, Research Associate... Read Story

September net trailer orders, at 12,200 units, closed Q3’s net order intake at 27,000 units. This brings ytd net order activity to 101.6k units, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.“Build... Read Story

ACT Research this week reported a strong kick off to the order season for Final North American Class 8 orders in September. Orders totaled 37,100 last month, and while the top line was respectable, the underlying numbers point to a divided market... Read Story

According to ACT Research, preliminary net trailer orders rose about 4,400 units from August to September, but at 12,100 units, were lower compared to last September, down 61% y/y. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the annual order cycle... Read Story

The US Class 8 market remains bifurcated, with continued overcapacity leading to generationally weak for-hire tractor fundamentals and stimulus/industrial policy supporting vocational equipment demand, as published in the latest release of the North... Read Story

September preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 37,100 units, doubling last month’s intake and up 0.3% y/y. Complete industry data for September, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-October.“Class 8... Read Story

August preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 16,400 units, up m/m but down 16% y/y. Complete industry data for August, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-September.“Class 8 orders remained at... Read Story

Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 13,465 units in July. Exports and Mexico accounted for 13% of July’s orders, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.“The Class 8 backlog fell 13,626 units m/m... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders rose about 1,000 units from June to July, but at 7,200 units, were lower compared to last July, down 37 percent y/y. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the annual order cycle boosts July’s tally to 10,300 units.... Read Story

ACT Research marks 2025 expectations for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks down sharply this month, even as 2024 forecasts push higher. The biggest driver of Classes 5-7 and Class 8 2024–2025 forecast changes are driven by excessively strong build... Read Story

July preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 13,400 units, down 8 percent m/m and 13 percent y/y. Complete industry data for July, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-August.“Class 8 orders remained at... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the used Class 8 average retail sale price took a big hit in June, slumping 7.6 percent m/m and 20 percent y/y to $54,300 units.“We signaled the price drop... Read Story

June net trailer orders, at 6,300 units, were 19 percent lower year/year, but a mere 275 units above May’s intake. June’s order tally brings Q2 net orders to 26k units (-14 percent from Q2’23) and closes the first half of 2024 with 74.5k net orders... Read Story

The freight market continues to be characterized by overcapacity, and with private fleets engaging in spot activity more than in past cycles, spot rates remain only slightly above the late-2023 lows, according to the latest release of the Freight... Read Story

After last month’s anomalous order number, June’s activity offers a more reflective view of current market conditions, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled... Read Story

ACT Research’s U.S. Tractor Dashboard, a metric that provides forward-looking market insight by encompassing variables that take both supply and demand into account, underscores that rather than getting better, the US Class 8 tractor outlook has... Read Story

June preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 14,800 units, down 37% month/month and 12% year/year. Complete industry data for June, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-July.“Even in good years, Q2... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the used Class 8 average retail sale price ebbed 1.5 percent lower m/m to $58,400 in May.“On a year-over-year basis, used retail prices were 15 percent lower... Read Story

Some of the recent Class 8 order strength is likely due to a small amount of prebuying, but overall, May’s orders are likely anomalous, as the industry is in the weakest period of the year for orders, and carrier profitability remains at multicycle... Read Story

May net orders, at 6,100 units, were about 46 percent lower year/year, and 7,650 units below April’s intake. May’s tally brings the YTD net order activity to 68,200 units, 25 percent lower than the first five months of 2023, with its faster paced... Read Story

Trucking data in May were disinflationary—higher truck orders, lower Cass shipments, and stalling spot trends—and show an industry prioritizing planning for emissions rules over cost economics, according to the latest release of the Freight Forecast:... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders dropped nominally from April to May, and at 6,000 units, were lower compared to last May, down 46 percent year/year. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the cycle boosts May’s tally to 7,100 units. Final May... Read Story

Except for Class 8, trailer and Classes 4-7 forecasts were largely unchanged, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK.“Not only did April build not slow in the face of tough freight fundamentals, falling... Read Story

Counter to expectations, preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes continued to increase in May (+7.4 percent), according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by... Read Story

May preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 23,200 units, up 46 percent m/m and 49 percent y/y on soft comparisons. Complete industry data for May, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-June.“Market... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the used Class 8 average retail sale price slid 1.9 percent m/m to $58,900 in April.“On a year-over-year basis, used retail prices were 17 percent lower,”... Read Story

Coming off one of the worst quarters in history for for-hire carriers, as evidenced by a 14-year low in net income amongst publicly traded TL carriers, possible green shoots are emerging. After a year of cost-defying buying by private fleets, ACT... Read Story

Except for trailers, changes to medium duty and Class 8 forecasts this month were small, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK.“The trailer forecast receives a more substantive haircut this month, driven... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders were little changed nominally from March to April. However, at 13,700 units, orders were higher compared to last April, up 21 percent y/y. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the cycle boosts April’s tally to... Read Story

April preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 15,600 units, down 1,800 units from March, but 30 percent higher than a very easy year-ago comparison. Complete industry data for April, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT... Read Story

Freight demand is nearing an upturn as growing goods spending, a turning inventory cycle, and rising industrial production will add to freight demand this year. After a two-year downturn, the upturn is likely within a couple of months, according to... Read Story

March trailer net orders, at 13,600 units, were nearly 25 percent lower y/y, and 7k units below February’s intake. This brings Q1’24 net orders to 48.3k units, down 29 percent from Q1’23’s faster paced order environment, with its pent-up demand and... Read Story

Final March Class 8 net orders totaled 17,410 units (17.2k seasonally adjusted), down 8.4 percent year over year. Total Classes 5-7 orders rose 23 percent y/y to 25,359 units (23.4k seasonally adjusted), as published in ACT Research’s latest State of... Read Story

After pushing its 2024 North America Class 8 production forecast up the previous two months, the forecast is left essentially unchanged in April, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK. While 2024 retail... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders decreased nominally from February to March. At 13,600 units, orders also were lower compared to last March, down 24 percent year over year. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the cycle leaves March’s tally... Read Story

Although the growth rate of preliminary Class 8 same dealer sales volumes slowed in March, it showed no signs of letting up (+3.7 percent), according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks... Read Story

March preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 17,300 units, down 10,400 units from February and 18.7 percent from a year ago. Complete industry data for March, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the used Class 8 average retail sale price improved 4.4 percent m/m to $62,100 in February.“On a year-over-year basis, used retail prices were 14 percent... Read Story

Weak freight rates continue to reduce carriers’ willingness to invest in equipment. February net orders, at 20,500 units were nearly 21 percent lower year/year, but 6.6k units above January’s intake, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s... Read Story

Final February Class 8 net orders, at 27,745 units were up 16 percent year/year. Total Classes 5-7 orders were up 8.6 percent y/y at 19,127 units, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.“Given ongoing weak... Read Story

February’s preliminary net trailer orders increased nominally from January to February. At 20,500 units, orders were lower compared to last February, down nearly 21 percent y/y. As we’re at the end of peak order season, seasonal adjustment (SA)... Read Story

Preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes increased 15% m/m in February, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.According to Steve Tam... Read Story

January preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 27,700 units, up 600 units from January and 16 percent from a year ago.“Weak freight and carrier profitability fundamentals, and large carriers guiding to lower CAPEX in 2024, would imply... Read Story

While trucking demand remains soft overall, rising imports and intermodal trends are key leading indicators of a recovery in trucking this year, according to the latest release of the Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report. Recovering... Read Story

ACT Research’s semi-annual seminar in February hosted industry leaders such as Bill Kretsinger, Chairman and CEO at American Central Transport, Joe Vitiritto, President and CEO at PAM Transport, and Marshall Franklin, CEO and CFO at Highway Transport... Read Story

Weak freight rates continue to reduce carriers’ willingness to invest in equipment, resulting in low trailer orders and high cancellations in January, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers... Read Story

Final January Class 8 net orders, at 27,125 units, were up 45 percent year over year (y/y). Total Classes 5-7 orders were up 14 percent y/y at 19,954 units, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.“US Class... Read Story

January’s preliminary net trailer orders decreased nominally from December to January. At 13,700 units, orders were lower compared to last January, down nearly 43 percent year over year. As we’re still in peak order season, seasonal adjustment (SA)... Read Story

Preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes accelerated 17 percent month over month (m/m) in January, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research... Read Story

After essentially holding the line on the forecast since last July, ACT Research pushes 2024 Class 8 production and sales expectations up in February, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK.“In addition to... Read Story

January preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 27,000 units, up 600 units from December and 45 percent from a year ago. Complete industry data for January, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the used Class 8 average retail sale price dropped 2.6 percent month/month to $58,000 in December. Retail prices last saw that level in April 2021.“On a year... Read Story

he latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index reflects the gradually recovering freight market.The Supply-Demand Balance tightened by 2.2 points in December to 54.2, seasonally adjusted, from 52.0 in November.Tim Denoyer, Vice President... Read Story

With freight markets continuing their bounce along the bottom, carrier profits at a low ebb, and pent-up demand exhausted, the 2024 game plan is more about hoping and coping than full steam ahead for the trailer market, according to this month’s... Read Story

U.S. freight cycle fundamentals will improve in 2024, according to the latest release of the Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report. Freight demand is below trend, but starting to recover, as post-pandemic effects fade, both real... Read Story

The convergence of continued strong build rates, a fading U.S. tractor sales trend, and early in the year sales seasonality risk a Class 8 inventory surge in Q1. ACT Research points out some of that dynamic can already be seen with more inventory... Read Story

December preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 26,500 units, falling by 15,000 units from November. Complete industry data for December, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-January.“After a strong and... Read Story

November’s preliminary net trailer orders decreased nominally from October to November. At 20,900 units, orders were lower compared to last November, down 47 percent y/y. As we’re still in the peak order season, seasonal adjustment (SA) lowers... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the used Class 8 average retail sale price fell 6 percent month/month to $59,300 in November, marking the first month of a sub-$60,000 price since April 2021... Read Story

Peak order season opened in September, and although net orders in November continued to show relatively healthy bookings, they were softer than the previous two months. Unlike the last few years with challenges solidly on the supply-side of the... Read Story

The surprising strength in the economy in 2023 may provide less ballast for freight in 2024, but supply contraction should propel the cycle forward in 2024, even if the broad economy slows, according to the latest release of the Freight Forecast, U.S... Read Story

Final November Class 8 net orders, at 41,732 units, were up 28 percent year over year, with tractor orders up 20 percent and vocational equipment orders up 60 percent on ongoing pent-up demand, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the... Read Story

Preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes slipped in November (-2.5 percent month/month), a little more than normal seasonality would suggest, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S.... Read Story

Even as we leave the forecast unchanged this month while witnessing continued positive order activity relative to our forecast, we caution that the freight market fundamentals that inform on the largest single Class 8 market, U.S. for-hire truckload... Read Story

November preliminary NA Class 8 net orders were 41,700 units, rising by 9,000 units from both October and year-ago November. Complete industry data for November, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the used Class 8 average retail sale price fell 1 percent m/m and 25 percent y/y to $62,900 in October.“The past three months’ less-than-expected declines... Read Story

Peak order season opened in September, and October net orders continued to show strong bookings. However, cancellations in some segments remain elevated, despite healthy backlogs. On balance, two solid months of orders are not enough for us to say... Read Story

Expectations are for freight markets to continue bouncing along the bottom in the near term, with some holiday volatility and a change in trajectory on the way next year, according to the latest release of the Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume... Read Story

While strong relative to freight market conditions, Class 8 orders were down 24 percent y/y in October, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.According to Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst... Read Story

October’s preliminary net trailer orders increased nominally from September to October, at 35,300 units, but were lower compared to last October, down more than 26 percent Y/Y. As we’re still in the opening of peak order season, seasonal adjustment... Read Story

October preliminary NA Class 8 net orders were 31,900 units, remaining at above-trend levels nominally and seasonally. Complete industry data for October, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-November.“A strong... Read Story

After a long downturn, freight demand fundamentals are gradually improving as pandemic substitution effects fade, destocking plays out, and real incomes improve, according to the latest release of the Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 average retail sale price fell 1 percent month over month and 25 percent year over year to $63,900 in September.“A second month of... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research's For-Hire Trucking Index shows continued improvement in freight volumes, pricing and driver availability.The Volume Index fell 4.9 points in September to 49.5 seasonally adjusted (SA), from 54.4 in August. While... Read Story

For the past three months, we have written about dark clouds on the trailer market horizon. September opens the peak order season, and while it is tempting to say, “here comes the sun,” we would be remiss if we didn’t note that a) one month’s data... Read Story

With the 2024 order season opening in September, the Class 8 backlog increased by 8,700 units from August to 161,300 units, and the backlog-to-build ratio increased to 5.5 months, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA... Read Story

Preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes suggest buyers tightened their belts in September, down 5 percent month/month, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks... Read Story

September’s preliminary net trailer orders increased sequentially, to 31,300 units, against a very easy August comp, and were notably higher compared to last September, up 19 percent. As the opening month of peak order season, seasonal adjustment... Read Story

September preliminary NA Class 8 net orders were 36,800 units, up 67% m/m, reflecting the strongest order month in the past year. Classes 5-7 net orders were more trend-like, rising 13% m/m to 23,100 units. Complete industry data for September... Read Story

August’s preliminary net trailer orders increased sequentially, to 11,500 units, but were lower against longer-term comparisons. As one of the weakest order months of the year, seasonal adjustment (SA) boosts August’s SA tally to 14,700 units. Final... Read Story

August preliminary NA Class 8 net orders were 19,000 units, down 9 percent year/year, but reflecting the best month since February. Continued economic strength and seasonal adjustment keep orders on trend. Complete industry data for August, including... Read Story

The rebalancing process in the U.S. freight market is being drawn out by reluctance to part with workers and significant private fleet capacity expansion, even as pressure on fleets worsened this month as diesel prices spiked, according to the latest... Read Story

Following on the heels of rising economic expectations, ACT Research’s forecasts for Classes 5-7, Class 8 and trailer output in 2023 and 2024 move higher again this month, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle... Read Story

July preliminary NA Class 8 net orders were 16,000, jumping 45 percent year over year (y/y), while Classes 5-7 net orders were 16,600, up 21 percent y/y. Complete industry data for July, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT... Read Story

Clouds on the trailer-market horizon bear watching, while simultaneously recognizing this is the seasonally weakest time of the year for forward-looking metrics, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers... Read Story

According to the latest release of the Freight Forecast: U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report, driver capacity models suggest the record declines in freight rates should be pushing out more jobs, generating the kind of creative destruction needed to... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders remained seasonally soft (as expected) in June with 16,200 units, up 5 percent year over year (y/y) and 4 percent month over month (m/m), while preliminary Classes 5-7 rose a modest 2 percent y/y with 17,700 units... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) improved by 12 percent month over month (m/m) in May. Average mileage was flat, with average price... Read Story

While the sky still isn’t falling, there certainly are more ominous clouds on the horizon that bear watching closely moving forward, one being a significant uptick in trailer cancellations for a second consecutive month, according to this month’s... Read Story

Freight volumes, rates and supply-demand balance see positive progress in May, according to the latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index.The Trucking Volume Index jumped in May to 49.4 (SA) from 37.7 in April, as destocking began to... Read Story

The most notable data points this month were heavy duty and medium duty retail sales, each up double digits year over year (y/y). Heavy duty cancellations moderated month over month (m/m) and backlog continues to trend lower, but units scheduled for... Read Story

According to the latest release of the Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report, ACT Research said that though April will likely mark the bottom of the spot rate downcycle, elevated Class 8 build rates will limit the near-term... Read Story

Class 8 forecasts, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, are for slight year-over-year increases in retail sales and production volumes in 2023, reflecting stronger momentum into Q3. ACT Research... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders bounced back in May with 15,500 units, up 10 percent y/y (+29 percent m/m), while preliminary Classes 5-7 surged 27 percent y/y with 19,000 units (+3 percent m/m). Complete industry data for May, including final... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) declined 23 percent month over month in April. Average mileage declined by 1 percent, with average... Read Story

Freight volumes, rates, and capacity continued their decline in April, according to the latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index.The Trucking Volume Index weakened further in April, at 37.6 versus 44.6 in March. Destocking contributed to the... Read Story

According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components & Raw Materials Forecast, OEMs are reporting that their orderboards for 2023 are fully open, with most booked through the end of the year (a few with spots still available in Q4)... Read Story

During the past six months, trailer manufacturers and major suppliers have largely indicated stable business conditions as compared to each prior month. Responses for May, relative to April, were in line with this trend. That said, this month’s... Read Story

Given the relatively weak environment for orders, combined with a fairly healthy supply chain, Class 8 backlog should be on a downward trajectory until 2024 orderboards open. April was no exception, with backlog down 15.1K units month over month to... Read Story

The freight cycle remains clearly weak, according to the latest release of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report, but there are rays of light at the end of the tunnel. ACT Research sees the tightly intertwined supply and... Read Story

April’s preliminary net trailer orders decreased sequentially, and were lower against longer-term comparisons, with 10,000 units (11,900 seasonally adjusted) projected to have been booked during the month. Final April results will be available later... Read Story

Class 8 demand to this point has remained relatively resilient, but ACT Research sees clear softening in big fleet profitability and other ancillary metrics. Expectations, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in April were 11,600 units, down 27 percent year over year (-39 percent month over month, while preliminary Classes 5-7 net orders were 18,000 units, down 10 percent Y/Y (-6 percent M/M).Complete industry data for... Read Story

Freight volumes improved, but remained weak, in March, and rates declined further, according to the latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index.The Trucking Volume Index declined by less in March, at 45.3 (SA) versus 43.1 in February.... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) jumped 18 percent month over month in March. Average mileage declined by 5 percent, with average... Read Story

Trailer OEMs and major component suppliers continue to indicate strong demand and lingering supply-chain constraints. Despite OEMs expanding availability, 2023 is not yet fully open across the industry, partially because manufacturers continue to... Read Story

March’s preliminary net trailer orders decreased sequentially, and were lower against longer-term comparisons, with 16,800 units (16,300 SA) projected to have been booked during the month. Final March results will be available later this month. This... Read Story

Trucking industry demand was quite healthy in March, despite the turmoil experienced in the banking sector and another interest rate increase. Pent-up demand remains resilient, and cancellations continue at miniscule levels for both heavy duty (HD)... Read Story

Freight demand is likely to be soft for some time, but nascent capacity removal will be key to rebalancing. ACT Research points to slower declines and wider spreads between specialized and dry van rates this year and note that a lot of rebalancing... Read Story

ACT Research continues to expect a mild recession to materialize, if not as soon as previously envisioned. Broad-based momentum coming out of Q1 increasingly suggests a recession is more likely to materialize in the second half of 2023. Helping to... Read Story

Class 8 net orders in March were 19,200 units, down 10 percent year over year (-19 percent month over month), while NA Classes 5-7 net orders were 18,600 units. Complete industry data for March, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT... Read Story

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) were 8 percent lower month over month in February. Average mileage was unchanged, with average... Read Story

Reflecting a higher build rate, the backlog-to-build ratio contracted to 8.5 months in February, after closing January at 9.9 months. For context, the average since Q3 2021 has been in the 8-month neighborhood, according to this month’s issue of ACT... Read Story

Freight volumes and rates declined in February, but we’re closer to the end than the start of this freight downcycle. Rate trends should begin to recover as soon as traction on freight volumes is established, and slower capacity growth this month is... Read Story

The mild freight downturn is likely to persist as banking crises fray nerves and the retail destock progresses, and restocking is unlikely for a while. The truckload spot market is bottoming as labor capacity slows, according to the latest release of... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report, February heavy-duty and medium-duty production relative to build plan each fell short. The Class 8 build rate in February was 1,277 units per day (UPD), up 13.9 percent... Read Story

February’s preliminary net trailer orders increased sequentially, but were lower against longer-term comparisons, with 25,800 units (25,600 SA) projected to have been booked during the month. Final February results will be available later this... Read Story

Preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volume managed a small gain, rising 2 percent month over month in February. The small improvement paled in comparison to the 233 percent sequential increase in auctions sales and a 55 percent... Read Story

ACT Research and Rhein Associates recently released N.A. Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine OUTLOOK.Regarding legislation, Andrew Wrobel, Senior Powertrain Analyst at Rhein Associates, said, “The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a... Read Story

According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components & Raw Materials Forecast, supply-chain concerns still linger, with some manufacturers sharing that they see no short-term improvement in sight. Most trailer makers continue to see... Read Story

Reflecting a lower build rate, January’s backlog-to-build ratio (BL/BU) increased to 9.9 months, after averaging ~8 months since August of 2021, according to ACT Research. That said, the BL/BU for total trailers decreased to 8.1 months when... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report, January heavy-duty (HD) orders were relatively weak, but it remains to be seen whether this represented a pause after robust year-end orders, or the beginning of a more... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) increased 24 percent month-over-month and were just 2 percent higher compared to January of 2022, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8... Read Story

The latest release of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK reported truckload spot rates, insights on the upcoming CVSA Road Check, and freight cycle bottoming.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said... Read Story

Preliminary net trailer orders dipped in January, with 24,200 units (22,000 SA) projected to have been booked during the month. Final January results will be available later this month. “We expected net orders to slow in January, after the explosion... Read Story

In spite of what seems to be a stumbling freight picture, higher financing costs and increasingly restrictive credit availability, ACT Research continues to see healthy sales and build trends for Class 8 into 2023. Pent-up vehicle demand and still... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in December were 18,400 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders were 17,800 units. Complete industry data for January, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-February.“Given how robust... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) increased 16 percent month over month in December. Average mileage was down 4... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index shows volumes and the supply-demand balance increased in December, while freight trucking rates continue to decline.Concerning volume, Tim Denoyer, Vice President & Senior Analyst at ACT... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report, December Class 8 net orders were healthy, bringing total year-end ordering activity to a strong 159,000 (Sept.-Dec.). Classes 5-7 orders declined 3 percent year... Read Story

December net U.S. trailer orders of 57,300 units were nearly 46 percent higher compared to November and 115 percent above December 2021, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.“Discussions in the... Read Story

ACT Research latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK reported moderating core personal consumption expenditures (PCE), slowing jobs growth, and decelerating wage inflation indicate the Fed’s campaign to bring inflation under... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed the Supply-Demand Balance and volumes decreased, while freight rates continue to decline.Concerning volume, Tim Denoyer, Vice President & Senior Analyst at ACT Research, said... Read Story

November net U.S. trailer orders of 39,590 units were 17 percent lower compared to last month, -27 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, and 22 percent above the year-ago November level, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) were down 19 percent month over month. Average mileage was down 1 percent, with... Read Story

Preliminary reports show net trailer orders continued to soar in November, with 39,000 units projected to have been booked during the month. Final November results will be available later this month.“We expected net orders to slow in November, after... Read Story

ACT Research released the December 2022 installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “We’re pleased to announce the first new product since we began... Read Story

ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK reported on the anticipated surge in Class 8 orders coupled with robust pent-up demand at year end.According to Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst, “In line... Read Story

Preliminary North American Class 8 net orders in November were 33,000 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders were 21,400 units. Complete industry data for November, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in... Read Story

According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components & Raw Materials Forecast, recent weak economic numbers and higher interest rates do not seem to have impacted the commercial vehicle (CV) sector in any meaningful form. Demand... Read Story

Specialty finance company Mitsubishi HC Capital America and ACT Research announced they are partnering on a four-part weekly video series, “A Conversation with ACT Research,” designed for commercial truck dealers, upfitters and end-users. Each of the... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s Transportation Digest, the top line on the Class 8 Tractor Dashboard slipped in September to a -4 reading, the sixth moderately downbeat reading in seven months.The Transportation Digest, which combines proprietary ACT... Read Story

October net U.S. trailer orders of 47,860 units were 83 percent higher compared to last month, +57 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, and 171 percent above the year-ago October level, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of... Read Story

ACT Research released the latest installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “While we lower truckload rate forecasts on supply factors, we believe... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report, current commercial vehicle (CV) market conditions continue to prove resilient in the face of aggressive interest rate hikes. October Class 8 net orders were robust, all... Read Story

Preliminary reports show net trailer orders in October were 46,750 units, up 82 percent from September, and 168 percent higher than the same month last year, according to ACT Research. Final October results will be available later this month.“With... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) decreased 10 percent month-over-month, and were 30 percent lower compared to October of 2021, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, 2022 forecasts this month are slightly raised from October thanks to easing supply-chain constraints. Current economic activity aside, as long as inflation... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in October were 42,500 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders were 23,400 units. Complete industry data for October, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-November.“The strength in... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported slightly lowered forecasts due to the Fed’s continued action toward inflation, disproportionally impacting the freight economy.According to Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and... Read Story

September net U.S. trailer orders of 26,086 units were 47 percent higher compared to last month, but 8 percent below the year-ago September level, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the top line on the Class 8 Tractor Dashboard dropped in August to a -3 reading, the fifth moderately downbeat reading in six months.“Dashboard readings to date suggest a more... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed volume, productivity and the supply-demand balance all declined in September.Concerning volume, Tim Denoyer, Vice President & Senior Analyst at ACT Research, commented, “It’s getting... Read Story

Preliminary reports show that net trailer orders in September were 25,700 units, up about 45 percent from August, but around 10 percent lower than the same month last year. Final September results will be available later this month. “With more 2023... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) decreased 9 percent month-over-month, and were 29 percent lower compared to September of 2021, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, forecasts this month are slightly lower than September due to stubborn inflation and the Fed’s continued firm action toward bringing it down to their 2... Read Story

ACT Research announced the release of DRIVING AUTOMATION, a report and total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) model covering commercial autonomous vehicles in North America. ACT Research, the gold standard in market data, forecasting, and TCO development for... Read Story

ACT Research reported preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in September were 53,700 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders were 26,600 units. Complete industry data for September, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported essentially unchanged forecasts from last month—demand remains healthy, production remains constrained, and freight rates and volumes managed to squeak out small... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the top line on the Class 8 Tractor Dashboard improved in July to a neutral -2 reading, closing out four consecutive months of moderately downbeat readings. “Our interpretation is a... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed August volume flat and productivity down, with the Supply-Demand Balance and capacity rising marginally.Kenny Vieth, President & Senior Analyst at ACT Research, said, “While Volume... Read Story

Preliminary reports show that net trailer orders in August were 17,700 units, up about 6 percent from July, but a significant 39 percent higher than the same month last year, according to ACT Research. Final August results will be available later... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) increased 43 percent month-over-month, but were 15 percent lower compared to August of 2021, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, forecasts this month are essentially unchanged from last month. Demand remains healthy, production remains constrained by supply-chain disruptions and tight... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in August were 21,600 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders were 18,400 units. “Last month, we sounded a note of caution, with the caveat that there were a number of mitigating factors (extended backlogs, order... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) were down 10 percent month-over-month in July. Average price and miles were down 1... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the top line on the Class 8 Tractor Dashboard was unchanged in June, the fourth month of moderately downbeat readings.“Our interpretation is a gradual erosion for Class 8 market... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed volume and productivity up, with the Supply-Demand Balance in July rising as the increase in volumes outweighed the increase in capacity.Tim Denoyer, Vice President & Senior Analyst... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, surging inflation, the Fed hiking interest rates into a potential recession, and supply-chain disruptions remain overarching themes.According to Kenny Vieth, ACT... Read Story

July net U.S. trailer orders of 16,997 units were 33 percent lower compared to last month, but more than 103 percent above the year-ago July level, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.“OEMS... Read Story

ACT Research has published a North American commercial vehicle and transportation prebuy analysis, Bigger Than Ever?: The Higher the Cost, The Bigger the Prebuy, which analyzes the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Notice of Proposed... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, ACT shifted forecasts last month to incorporate an inbound recession, and this month’s forecast changes were mostly characterized by smaller adjustments... Read Story

For the first five months of 2022, U.S. and Canadian Class 8 natural gas truck retail sales rose 11 percent year-to-date against comparisons of the same time period in 2021, as published in the quarterly report (AFQ: Alternative Fuels Quarterly)... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in July were 11,400 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders were 13,500 units. Complete industry data for July, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-August.“Do we think July’s weak... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) were 1% higher month-over-month. Longer term, volumes dropped 44% y/y and were 34%... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed volume and pricing down, with capacity still on the high side, resulting in a lower Supply-Demand Balance in June.Carter Vieth, Research Associate at ACT Research, said, “The reading... Read Story

Preliminary reports show that net trailer orders in June were 15,300 units, down about 21 percent from the previous month, but up a significant 33 percent from the same month last year. Final June results will be available later this month.ACT... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in June were 15,500 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders were 17,800 units. Complete industry data for June, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-July.“Seasonal adjustment lifts... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the top line on the Class 8 Tractor Dashboard dropped again in April.“The Tractor Dashboard result affirms the steady and steep erosion in prospective business conditions for Class... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) were 8 percent higher month-over-month. Longer term, volumes were down 38 percent... Read Story

May net U.S. trailer orders of 19,445 units were virtually unchanged compared to April, down just 0.8 percent month over month, but were 93 percent higher compared to May 2021, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry:... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) fell 10 percent month-over-month, and were 40 percent lower compared to May of 2021, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks... Read Story

Preliminary reports show net trailer orders in May were 18,300 units, down about 7 percent from the previous month, but up a significant 111 percent from May last year, according to ACT Research. Final May results will be available later this... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, while ACT Research still believes a soft landing is the U.S. economy’s most likely path, the potential for a mild recession is becoming an increasingly... Read Story

April net U.S. trailer orders of 19,614 units decreased more than 48 percent from the previous month, but were 23 percent higher compared to April of 2021, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the top line on the Class 8 tractor dashboard took another tumble in March, extending the drop that started in January.The report, which combines proprietary ACT data and analysis... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, the deterioration of some freight-related metrics that began in March continued through April and into early May.Eric Crawford, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) fell 40 percent month-over-month, and were 33 percent lower compared to April of 2021, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks... Read Story

ACT Research released the latest installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “As recently as the start of the year, pricing power in the truckload... Read Story

Preliminary reports show that net trailer orders in April were 16,100 units, down almost 60 percent from the previous month and up slightly from the same month last year, according to ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.“While... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, while ACT Research still likes the footing of the U.S. economy, with consumers sitting on considerable savings, debt-service historically low, and the job... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in April were 15,800 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders slid to 19,500 units. Complete industry data for April, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-May. “With backlog ahead of... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that in early April, following the publication of a “the sky is falling” op-ed in a transportation industry trade publication, ACT’s staff received questions relating to... Read Story

March net U.S. trailer orders of 37,901 units increased more than 40 percent from the previous month and were nearly 28 percent higher compared to March 2021. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 38,400 grew roughly 37 percent versus... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) were 11 percent higher month-over-month. Longer term, volumes were down 27 percent... Read Story

For the first two months of 2022, U.S. and Canadian Class 8 natural gas truck retail sales rose 21 percent year-to-date against comparisons of the same time period in 2021, as published in the quarterly report (AFQ: Alternative Fuels Quarterly)... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the top line on ACT’s Tractor Dashboard in February extended the steep-pitched decline of January, taking the dashboard top line tally from double-digits in January to zero.The... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) grew 23 percent month-over-month, but were 23 percent lower compared to March of 2021, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, lagging Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by about one month, some freight-related metrics looked increasingly tired in March and early April, but there’s more to the... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, for the first time since the second quarter 2020 transportation metrics stopped moving “up and to the right” in Q1 2022.According to Kenny Vieth, ACT’s... Read Story

Preliminary reports show net trailer orders in March reached the highest level since December 2020, according to ACT Research. Bookings of 37,900 units were up 40 percent month-over-month and 28 percent better year-over-year. Final March results will... Read Story

February net U.S. trailer orders of 27,041 units increased about 1 percent from the previous month and were 6 percent higher compared to February of 2021. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 28,100 units were virtually unchanged versus... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, while the economic set-up remains favorable, considerable friction and uncertainty have been added, with many more loose ends in the economic story than there were... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) grew 20 percent month-over-month, but were 14 percent lower compared to February 2021, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks... Read Story

The order pace for U.S. trailers that closed 2021 and opened 2022 continued for the third straight month in February, according to ACT Research. Preliminary estimates point to OEMs booking 26,500 net orders for the month, down 0.7 percent... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, supply-chain constraints kept a lid on the industry’s ability to raise build rates through 2021, and just as the supply of chips was starting to improve, the... Read Story

According to the recently released N.A. Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine OUTLOOK, published by ACT Research and Rhein Associates, partnerships and investments to support new powertrains for and lower carbon emissions from commercial vehicle... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in February were 21,000 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders rose to 18,300 units, according to ACT Research. “Constrained production capabilities and long backlogs continue to impede new order activity. Based on... Read Story

January net U.S. trailer orders of 26,595 units increased less than 1 percent from the previous month and were more than 15 percent lower compared to January of 2021. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 28,000 units were down about 2... Read Story

ACT Research began its 66th Seminar with a panel discussion about the current state and future of U.S. economics. Panelists included Bryan Bezold, Senior Economist at Ford; as well as ACT’s Principal, Industry Analyst, Jim Meil; and Chief Economist... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, for much of the past 20 months post-lockdown, economic conditions have been idyllic broadly, and particularly for commercial vehicle demand.According to Kenny... Read Story

According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components Report, the U.S. trailer industry backlog grew 3 percent sequentially in December, but ended 2021 9 percent below the previous year.“Overall, last year closed with the U.S.... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) shrank 8 percent month-over-month and were 32 percent lower compared to January of 2021, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, supply-chain constraints kept a lid on the industry’s ability to raise build rates through 2021, at least until December when a torrent of... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that as supply-chain constraints continue to dominate the conversation, broad-based economic and freight market strength is often overlooked.Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President... Read Story

December net U.S. trailer orders of 26,382 units decreased nearly 18 percent from the previous month and were nearly 41 percent lower than December 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 28,500 units were down about 16 percent... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the six key themes that shaped the North American commercial vehicle markets in 2021 will continue to do so in 2022, and likely beyond.“The factors impacting the market start and... Read Story

Preliminary reports show trailer net orders closed on a softer note, with OEMs booking 26,600 units in December, according to ACT Research. That was 17 percent lower than November and 40 percent below the previous year’s volume. Final December... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that despite rock-solid demand across the spectrum of forward-looking medium and heavy-duty vehicle market indicators, industry capacity remains range-bound across a broad... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) were 15 percent lower month-over-month. Longer term, volumes were down 16 percent... Read Story

November net U.S. trailer orders of 32,103 units increased more than 84 percent from the previous month, but were nearly 20 percent lower compared to November of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 33,900 units were up more than... Read Story

Preliminary reports show trailer net orders rebounded in November, as some OEMs began to further solidify their 2022 production plans. Net orders of 31,000 trailers were posted during the month, a 78 percent increase from October, although it trailed... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in November were 9,800 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders dropped to 21,500 units, both representing lower sequential and year-over-year readings. Complete industry data for November, including final order... Read Story

October net U.S. trailer orders of 17,405 units fell more than 38 percent from the previous month and were nearly 69 percent lower compared to October of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 19,600 units were down almost 40... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the front-and-center concerns of the commercial vehicle industry at the moment are supply-chain constraints, as well as the inflationary ramifications that flow from them.“In... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, with total Classes 5-8 build rates flat sequentially and essentially stuck at the year-to-date average, the supply-demand setup for the entire industry remains... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) decreased 3 percent month over month and dropped 24 percent year over year in October. That said, through the first 10 months of the year, activity is 4 percent higher compared to the same period a... Read Story

October preliminary net trailer orders of 16,700 units were down approximately 40 percent from September and off 70 percent from last year’s peak order month, according to ACT Research. Final October volume will be available later this month.“It’s... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in October were 23,600 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders dropped to 21,900 units, both representing lower sequential and year-over-year readings. Complete industry data for October, including final order numbers... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s Transportation Digest, near-term signs of demand remain strong, while supply constraints dictate that ACT Research’s forecasts for the next year remain under pressure.“For heavy trucks, no less than for medium and light... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) were 1 percent higher month-over-month. Longer term, volumes were down 23 percent year... Read Story

September net U.S. trailer orders of 28,127 units rose nearly 126 percent from the previous month, but were more than 45 percent lower compared to September of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 32,400 units were up almost 140... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, the supply-demand setup for the entire industry remains unchanged. Despite rock-solid demand metrics across the spectrum of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle types... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) increased 5 percent month-over-month, but dropped 25 percent year over year in September. Through the first nine months of the year, activity is 3 percent higher compared to the same period a year... Read Story

Preliminary reports show trailer OEMs posted 28,500 net orders in September, according to ACT Research. That was a 130 percent sequential surge over August, but trailed the same month last year by 45 percent. Final September volume will be available... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, near-term commercial vehicle production forecasts have been trimmed again, amid continued supply-side constraints.According to Steve Tam, ACT’s Vice... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that commercial vehicle demand-side activity remains at as-good-as-it-gets levels.Regarding demand metrics, Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst, noted, “ACT’s... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, North America’s commercial vehicle industry is experiencing material capacity constraints that are dictating the speed at which the industry can produce for the rest of this year... Read Story

August net U.S. trailer orders of 12,336 units rose nearly 52 percent from the previous month, but were almost 57 percent lower compared to August of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 13,400 units were up almost 41 percent... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, there has not been much change in trajectory of macro datapoints that are influencing commercial vehicle demand. Except for the asterisk that is the COVID Delta... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) dropped 5 percent month-over-month and 24 percent year over year in August. Through the first eight months of the year, activity is 8 percent higher compared to the same period a year ago... Read Story

ACT Research released the latest installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “Freight markets remain tight as we head into a clearly historic peak... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, commercial vehicle production forecasts for this year and next have been cut again, amid continued supply-side constraints.According to Kenny Vieth, ACT’s... Read Story

According to the N.A. Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine OUTLOOK, published by ACT Research and Rhein Associates, discussion and investment to support new powertrains for and lower carbon emissions from commercial vehicle fleets continues.... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in August were 36,900 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders jumped to 31,900 units, both representing five-month high readings. Complete industry data for August, to include final order numbers, will be published by... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) were 4 percent lower month-over-month. Longer term, volumes were down 18 percent year over... Read Story

Again, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, ACT Research began its 65th Seminar via a virtual platform, with a panel discussion about the current state and future of U.S. economics. Panelists included Jon Horvath, Director Economics and Marketplace... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with July data, showed an uptick in volumes and pricing moderating, with a still-strong supply-demand balance.Tim Denoyer, Vice President and Senior Analyst at ACT Research, commented... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the metrics ACT Research is tracking underscore how robust current market conditions are, but also hint at COVID and other vulnerabilities.The report, which combines proprietary ACT... Read Story

Preliminary reports show trailer OEMs posted 7,100 net orders in July, roughly two-thirds of June’s volume and 63 percent less than the same month last year, according to ACT Research. Final July volume will be available later this month. “Trailer... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in July were 25,800 units, unchanged compared to June’s actual 25,809 orders booked. NA Classes 5-7 net orders jumped 30 percent from June and 70 percent from a year ago, to 30,200 units. Complete industry data for... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported its heavy-duty forecasts for the remainder of this year and the following two years remain very strong.“Indicators we track for the economy, for freight and for equipment... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) were 1 percent lower month-over-month. Longer term, volumes were down 5 percent year over... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s Transportation Digest, forecast stability this year has been driven by three factors: major positive momentum carried-over from 2020, the struggle of manufacturers to push production even higher in the face of record heavy... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, with demand for commercial vehicles surging, any number of conversations the past few months have been around the opening of the OEMs’ 2022 order books.“There are... Read Story

Preliminary reports show trailer OEMs posted 11,100 net orders in June, 20 percent above May orders, but 19 percent below the same point last year. Final June volume will be available later this month, ACT Research reports. “While the sequential... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in June were 25,700 units, up 11 percent from May, and a still robust 61 percent higher than June of 2020’s COVID-impacted intake. NA Classes 5-7, with orders at 22,800 units, slipped 12 percent from May, according... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) were 12 percent lower month-over-month, but significantly higher year over year and year... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that, as expected and aligning with preliminary data, North American Class 8 net orders were soft in May, as full 2021 backlogs and as-yet fully opened 2022 order books... Read Story

Preliminary reports show trailer OEMs posted 8,800 net orders in May, off 39 percent versus April, but almost 170 percent better than the COVID-impacted level last year, ACT Research reported. Final May volume will be available later this month. “The... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the question of commercial vehicle demand for 2021 has already been answered, and for the first time ever, this perspective is illuminated by all positive... Read Story

According to the recently released N.A. Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine OUTLOOK, published by ACT Research and Rhein Associates, discussion continues about how internal combustion engines will meet future emissions standards for the latter part... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported the question of commercial vehicle demand for 2021 has been answered, but the remaining question is the industry’s ability to meet that level of demand.“This year’s... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the aggregate prosperity seen currently in the commercial vehicle industry, and in the U.S. economy as a whole, is a welcome contrast to the situation that existed a year ago.... Read Story

April net U.S. trailer orders of 14,387 units fell nearly 52 percent from the previous month and rose more than 3,600 percent compared to the severely COVID-impacted April of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 18,900 units were... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with April data, showed a slowing in volumes, strength in pricing, and a supply-demand balance that is still tight, but beginning to show early signs of rebalancing. The ACT For-Hire... Read Story

Preliminary reports from trailer OEMs indicate that 14,400 new trailer orders were booked in April, which was 52 percent lower than March, but a staggering 3,600 percent above the dramatically COVID-impacted volume for the same month last year. Final... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, April Class 8 net orders pulled back to a seven-month low, with benign cancellations. ACT Research attributes the order pullback not to any slowing in demand, but... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) dropped 2 percent month-over-month, but rose 51 percent year over year in April. Through the first four months of the year, activity is 29 percent higher compared to the same period a year ago... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the question of commercial vehicle demand for 2021 has already been answered, but the number of units to be built this year remains a question of... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in April were 33,500 units, down 16 percent from March, but a whopping 689 percent higher than April of last year’s COVID-19-stricken intake. NA Classes 5-7 demand, with orders at 27,300 units, slipped 15 percent... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with March data, showed a Driver Availability Index that has tightened to another new low point in the past three years, the fourth in a row.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that there is much to like about the current state of the U.S. economy, as well as from both freight and commercial vehicle demand perspectives.“From an economic standpoint... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) grew for all time periods, up 28 percent sequentially, 25 percent higher year over year... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the current business environment for heavy-duty trucks doesn’t get much better than this.“Demand for commercial vehicles in North America is about as good as we’ve seen in 35 years... Read Story

ACT Research released its newest commercial electric vehicle (CEV) study, Charging Forward: 2020-2040 BEV & FCEV Forecast & Analysis, to charter subscribers on April 1 and is now making this report available to the public. This report is a follow-up... Read Story

Preliminary reports from trailer OEMs indicate 29,500 new trailer orders were booked in March, ACT Research reported. That was 12 percent better than February and more than triple the volume seen last year, when COVID-driven pressures began to... Read Story

ACT Research released the latest installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “With visibility on a strong freight cycle still unusually good, this... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the list of things to like from the current economic, freight and commercial vehicle demand perspectives is long.According to Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in March were 40,000 units, down 10 percent from February, but a whopping 424 percent higher than March of last year’s COVID-stricken intake. NA Classes 5-7 demand, with orders at 31,400 units, were up 19 percent... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) fell sequentially (-7 percent month over month), while average sale price, miles and age... Read Story

February net U.S. trailer orders of 26,414 units fell nearly 16 percent from January, but rose almost 88 percent compared to February of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 28,300 units were down 14 percent versus January, but 74... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, supply will be the determining factor of this year’s heavy-duty vehicle market – not demand, which remains hot.“All the indicators we use to track the heavy-duty truck market point... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) fell 6 percent month over month and 8 percent year over year in February, but are 5 percent higher on a year-to-date basis compared to this time last year, according to the latest preliminary... Read Story

According to the recently released N.A. Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine OUTLOOK, published by ACT Research and Rhein Associates, the Biden administration’s focus includes prioritizing investment in new low carbon technologies to strengthen U.S.... Read Story

ACT Research released the latest installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report. Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “Pushing commercial vehicle demand forward, freight rates ended... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the demand story for commercial vehicles remains unchanged this year, but the supply chain’s ability to respond to demand will be the key determinant of... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that the freight-generating sectors of the economy are the strongest sectors at the start of 2021, with carrier profitability expected to rise to record levels this year... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with January data, showed a Driver Availability Index that has tightened to its lowest point in the past three years.The ACT For-Hire Trucking Index is a monthly survey of for-hire... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the heavy-duty truck market exploded off the starting blocks at the beginning of the year, with order numbers that build on 2020’s strong close.“The massive supply-demand imbalance... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in February were 43,800 units, up 4 percent from January, and a 212 percent improvement from year-ago February. NA Classes 5-7 demand, with orders at 25,400 units, slid 4 percent sequentially but were still up 12... Read Story

According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components Report, trailer net orders have pushed the industry backlog higher for the past seven months, with January’s order level 66 percent above current build rates.ACT Research’s U.S.... Read Story

January net U.S. trailer orders of 30,680 units fell more than 30 percent from the previous month, but rose nearly 105 percent compared to January of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 32,100 units were down 30 percent versus... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) fell 8 percent month-over-month in January, but are 14 percent higher year-over-year compared to 2020, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8... Read Story

Preliminary reports indicate that January net order volume of 29,100 trailers was up 94 percent from the same month last year. That was also down 33 percent from December 2020 bookings, according to ACT Research. Final January volume will be... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the demand story for commercial vehicles remains unchanged this year, but the supply chain’s ability to respond to demand will be the key determinant of... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in January were 42,200 units, down 17 percent from December, but a 146 percent improvement from year-ago January. NA Classes 5-7 demand, with orders at 25,300 units, slid 28 percent sequentially but were still up 26... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes, average price and average age all rose month over month, up 13 percent, 3 percent and 1... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, 2020 wasn’t all bad for truck transportation and the heavy-duty market. It wasn’t even half bad. It was one quarter bad.“The shock and magnitude of the second quarter economic... Read Story

December net U.S. trailer orders of 43,806 units grew 11 percent from the previous month and were up nearly 150 percent year-over-year. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 45,800 units were up 11 percent versus November, but 148... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, challenges facing commercial vehicle OEMs and suppliers in January 2021 are vastly different from those being addressed one year ago.“To repurpose a phrase, commercial... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) rose 11 percent month-over-month in December, and are 25 percent higher year-to-date compared to 2019, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in December were 50,900 units, down 2 percent from November, but a 153 percent improvement from year-ago December. NA Classes 5-7 demand, with orders at 35,100 units, rose 28 percent sequentially and 73 percent... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes, average miles and average age all declined month over month, down 22 percent, 2 percent and... Read Story

November net U.S. trailer orders of 39,645 units fell nearly 28 percent from the previous month, but that followed a two-month order surge and still indicates a solid month. Net orders were up 100 percent year-over-year and more than 30 percent year... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported the strength in new commercial vehicle demand can be summed with strength in freight rates.“Despite, or arguably because of, the pandemic-related pause in Q2, commercial... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the 2020 heavy-duty truck market will close on a robust note, setting the stage for 2021.“Next year will certainly show significant year-over-year growth, as the industry builds on... Read Story

Preliminary information for November indicates that the U.S. trailer industry booked 39,500 net orders for the month, according to ACT Research. While down 28 percent from October, November volume was nearly double that seen in the same month last... Read Story

ACT Research released the latest installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “Freight is typically not a backlog business, but in the holiday season... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the strength in new commercial vehicle demand is a direct result of strength in freight rates.According to Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst... Read Story

According to the recently released N.A. Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine OUTLOOK, published by ACT Research and Rhein Associates, the U.S. economy continues to improve, despite setbacks with increased COVID cases across the country. Additionally... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in November were 51,900 units, up 33 percent from October and a 197 percent improvement from year-ago November. NA Classes 5-7 demand continued in-line with recent activity, at 27,200 units. That order volume... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, from big fleets to owner-operators, and their vocational counterparts, motor carriers across-the-board have ridden a down-and-up roller coaster this year.“We’ve been tracking a... Read Story

October net U.S. trailer orders of 54,691 units posted another sequential improvement, up nearly 7 percent from September’s rise and well above October 2019’s level (up 70 percent). Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 57,000 units were... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, the pandemic’s toll has not been evenly distributed across the U.S. economy. Transportation is one segment that has fared better than others, and that, in turn... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) dropped 10 percent month-over-month in October, but are 10 percent higher year-to-date compared to the first 10 months of 2019, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the... Read Story

ACT Research released the latest installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “The substitution of spending to goods and away from services is... Read Story

ACT Research reported preliminary information for October indicates the U.S. trailer industry booked 54,200 net orders for the month, up 6 percent from September and more than 68 percent better than the same month last year. Before accounting for... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, even before the pandemic plunge in Q2, there was never serious doubt that the demand for commercial vehicles would rise in 2021.According to Kenny Vieth... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in October were 38,900 units, up 27 percent from September and a 78 percent improvement from year-ago October. NA Classes 5-7 demand jumped to a 10-quarter high (March 2018) in October, to 29,300 units. That order... Read Story

September net U.S. trailer orders of 51,208 units were a significant improvement (up 82 percent) from August’s uptick and well above September 2019’s level (up 174 percent). Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 52,000 units were up 77... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, there are any number of concerns regarding the economy in coming months, but one thing that definitely can be crossed off the worry list is commercial vehicle... Read Story

ACT Research released the latest installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.“Although we expect some easing in the truckload market after the holidays due to driver pay increases and the end of extended unemployment... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in September were 31,100 units, up 60 percent from August and a whopping 145 percent from an easy year-ago comparison. The NA Classes 5-7 market saw orders at a healthy 26,900 units, up 37 percent month-over-month... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with August data, showed a continuing tight trucking market, with volume and rate surges ongoing and driver availability deteriorating. August’s Volume Index rose to 67.9 (SA), and... Read Story

August net U.S. trailer orders of 28,139 units were a significant improvement (up 49 percent) from July’s uptick and well above August 2019’s level (up 160 percent). Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 29,000 units were up 46 percent... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, the US economy is recovering from the early-year pandemic-driven shutdowns, but on a K-shaped trajectory, rather than the earlier speculated V, U or L-like paths.... Read Story

Preliminary information for August indicates the U.S. trailer industry booked 27,500 net orders for the month, a 46 percent improvement from July and more than 150 percent better than the same month last year, ACT Research reported. Before accounting... Read Story

ACT Research released the September installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “The nearly two-year freight recession is finally ending, but the... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in August were 19,500 units, down 4 percent from July, but up 75 percent from an easy year-ago comparison. The NA Classes 5-7 market saw orders at a healthy 19,400 units, up 16 percent month-over-month, but 2 percent... Read Story

According to the recently released N.A. Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine OUTLOOK, published by ACT Research and Rhein Associates, economic indicators in recent months suggest the worst of the COVID-19 impact is in the rearview mirror. The report... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that freight markets continue to be less impacted by the pandemic than the economy at large, and that a vaccine is seen as the key to unlocking a more broad-based recovery... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, COVID-19 is just one of several factors that could impact commercial vehicle forecasts now and in the foreseeable future.“The general trend of the COVID contagion curve through July... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes were up 13 percent year-to-date against the first seven months of 2019, with average price... Read Story

According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components Report, analysis of the last decade of trailer production shows that the industry opened the year at an average production pace until the shelter-in-place lockdowns began in late... Read Story

July net U.S. trailer orders of 18,851 units were a significant improvement (up 40 percent) from June’s uptick and well above July 2019’s level (up 80 percent). Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 20,000 units were up 26 percent versus... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, the U.S. economy continued to post good numbers in July, including a 1.2 percent month-over-month increase in retail sales, indicating that consumers’ wallets... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) grew 16 percent month-over-month in July, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research. Longer-term, volumes rose... Read Story

ACT Research released the August installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report. Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “A freight recovery amidst a driver shortage has driven an acutely... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in July were 20,300 units, rising 27 percent from June, and up 98 percent from a very easy year-ago comparison. The NA Classes 5-7 market saw orders slip to 16,700 units, down 6 percent month-over-month and 3 percent... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes were up 6% year-to-date against the first half of 2019, with average price, miles and age... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that the impact of more people and politicians taking the threat of the virus more seriously is a choppy economic path forward.In recognition of the virus’ impact, ACT... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the tug of war between positive and negative influences on the business environment and trucking reached a pivotal juncture at the end of June, but escalation in new COVID cases... Read Story

June net U.S. trailer orders of 13,441 units were a significant improvement (333 percent) from May’s very low comparison, arriving dramatically above June 2019’s level, up 112 percent. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 16,000 units... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, May and June have returned to something closer to life as usual, following the shutdowns of March and April. “A survey of the current business landscape shows a... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) grew 54 percent month-over-month in June, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research. Longer-term, volumes rose... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in June were 16,000 units, rising 139 percent from May, and up 23 percent from a very easy year-ago comparison, ACT Research reported. The NA Classes 5-7 market saw orders improve 77 percent month-over-month, despite... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research found much more to like about the state of the economy today than was visible on month ago, now that the US re-opening is underway.In recognition of the virus’ impact, ACT Research... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the shock waves of the COVID-19 recession continue to depress both the North American and global economies, with June marking the fourth month of what will go down in the record... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with May data, showed significant improvement in all five diffusion index measures tracked. May’s Volume Index rose from 19.3 in April to 50.2, with capacity also at the neutral 50 mark... Read Story

May net U.S. trailer orders of 3,107 units were a significant improvement from April, but net orders remain below May 2019’s level, down 71 percent. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 7,400 units were up 29 percent versus April... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, the economy continues to re-open with some very big numbers being reported on easy comparisons, after falling sharply the past few months.“Hand-in-hand with the re... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in May were 6,700 units, up 56 percent from April, but down 38 percent from a very easy year-ago comparison. Living up to its “steady” moniker, the NA Classes 5-7 market saw orders improve 5.3 percent... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research is predicting that the economy will transition from contraction to growth over the course of Q3 and Q4, acknowledging that after the current focus on saving lives will come the... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, Used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes dropped 15 percent month-over-month in April, with longer-term sales dropping 7 percent year... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the COVID-19 pandemic is having its most severe impact on North American, and global, economic activity now. The report noted the extent of the shock was a near total surprise to... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, COVID-19 was in evidence across the commercial vehicle statistics in April, with Class 8 net orders at their lowest level since September 1995 and medium-duty orders at... Read Story

Preliminary April net U.S. trailer orders were 250 units, an all-time monthly low for the industry. Volume was 97 percent down from March and 98 percent below the same month last year, ACT Research reported.That all-time low volume resulted from a... Read Story

According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components Report, the U.S. trailer industry has shifted from the production/capacity challenges of the last three years, with their corresponding pressures on the component and material... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) contracted 8 percent month-over-month in 2020’s fourth month, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, 2021 is being forecast as the transition year, as the global economies and North American commercial vehicle demand move from COVID-19’s negative impacts... Read Story

Preliminary NA Classes 5-7 net orders in April fell to 7,600 units, down 69 percent compared to year-ago April and 50 percent below the March order intake. Complete industry data for April, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in April fell to 4,100 units, down 46 percent from March and 72 percent lower than an easy year-ago comparison. Complete industry data for April, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that the North American commercial vehicle market, as well as the global economy, addressed the spiraling pandemic with shutdown announcements, but the report continued by... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes dropped just 1 percent month-over-month in March, with longer-term sales rising 5 percent... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with March data, showed further contraction for both volumes and freight rates, now at 42.4 and 43.2 respective diffusion index readings. Productivity, while neutral at 50.0, likely was... Read Story

March net U.S. trailer orders of 7,600 units were down 43 percent month-over-month and 51 percent below the previous year. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 13,200 were down 14 percent versus February, according to this month’s issue... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) contracted 8 percent month-over-month in March, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research. Longer-term... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the continued spread of COVID-19 over the past month has resulted in freefalling GDP assumptions, and by extension freight volumes, carrier profits and... Read Story

ACT Research released the April installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report. For the truckload spot market, the report forecasts rates for the next 12 to 15 months.This month, it introduced TL spot rates forecasts for... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that, starting in the second half of February, COVID-19 went from a China containment story to one of spiraling pandemic.“There are times when the world that you thought... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in March fell to 7,800 units, down 45 percent from February and 51 percent lower than an easy year-ago comparison. March’s Classes 5-7 net orders were 14,700 units, down 36 percent from February and 31 percent from... Read Story

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes improved 14 percent month-over-month in February, with longer-term sales rising 9 percent... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) increased 21 percent month-over-month in 2020’s second month, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.... Read Story

February net U.S. trailer orders of 12,700 units were down 15 percent month-over-month and 45 percent below the previous year. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 14,800 were down 12 percent versus January, according to this month’s... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, Class 8 inventory-to-sales ratio, seasonally adjusted, hit 3.5 months in February, while the Classes 5-7 inventory-to-sales ratio dropped from a “highest in a... Read Story

ACT Research released the March installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report covering the truckload, intermodal, LTL and last mile sectors.Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst, said, “There’s... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that the new low NOx Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) will impact the U.S. commercial vehicle market, citing past regulatory examples.“Thanks to the EPA’s GHG... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, key truck transportation metrics continued to give mixed signals in early 2020. Additionally, the report explained that the total medium duty market closed 2019 on a positive note... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in February were 14,100 units, down 18 percent from January and 16 percent lower than an easy year-ago comparison. February’s Classes 5-7 net orders rose to an 11-month high 22,200 units, up 12 percent from January... Read Story

New U.S. trailer orders of 16,800 were down 9 percent month-over-month in January, and after accounting for cancellations, net orders of 15,000 dropped 15 percent. Longer-term comparisons show net orders down 28 percent year-over-year, according to... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, Class 8 inventories rose 3,400 units month-over-month in January, as production outpaced expectedly weak sales.“With the rise in inventory and weak sales, the... Read Story

After softness in late Q3/early Q4, medium duty orders appear to have shown some resilience the past two months. In January, preliminary data show NA Classes 5-7 net orders at 18,500 units, down 9 percent from December and 20 percent year over year.... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in January were 17,700 units, down 12 percent from December 2019, but up 10 percent from last January. Complete industry data for January, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, truckload contract rates turned negative in the third quarter of 2019, down 2 percent year-over-year, and loaded miles per tractor fell 5 percent in the same period.... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with December data, showed improvement in for-hire freight volumes and utilization, with 55.5 and 52.3 respective diffusion index readings, both up four points from November on a... Read Story

New U.S. trailer orders of 18,400 were down 13 percent month-over-month in December, and after accounting for cancellations, net orders of 17,000 dropped 11 percent. Longer-term comparisons show net orders down 35 percent year-over-year and 51... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, ACT projects that the US economy is poised to expand by 1.8 percent in 2020.ACT’s State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report provides a monthly look at the current... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for December 2019 indicates trailer manufacturers booked 17,200 net orders to their orderboards last month, a 13 percent decline from November volume. Activity was 37 percent below last December. For the full year... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, over the past decade, the EPA shifted its focus from the tailpipe to fuel economy. On Jan. 6, the EPA released an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking... Read Story

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in December 2019 were 20,000 units, up 14 percent from November and down just 6.5 percent from year-ago December, as the industry transitions to much easier year-over-year comparisons. Complete industry data for... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research noted that three factors are at work in the weak outlook for heavy commercial vehicles in the coming two years: demand, supply and timing. While some, like the oversupply of... Read Story

After an anomalous sequential gain in October, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes returned to trend in November, falling 35 percent month over month, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, the prosperity of the year we are leaving will transition to tougher medium and heavy-duty market conditions in 2020.“After peak build and sales in 2019... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for November indicates trailer manufacturers booked 19,500 net orders to their orderboards last month, a 39 percent decline from October’s volume. Activity was 56 percent below November of 2018, while year-to-date... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, expectations for the Class 8 and trailer production volumes have been trimmed for 2020, and expectations of a recovery starting in 2021 have been... Read Story

ACT Research released the December installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report covering the truckload, intermodal, LTL and last mile sectors.The ACT Freight Forecast provides three-year forecasts for volumes and... Read Story

Preliminary November data show that Classes 5-8 net order volumes were uniformly soft. Combined North American Classes 5-8 intake fell 15 percent month over month and 38 percent year over year in November on a nominal basis, ACT Research reported.... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research noted expectations for the Class 8 and trailer markets anticipate an accelerating pullback in build rates, as freight market conditions remain at a low ebb. While less cliff-like... Read Story

New U.S. trailer orders of 37,200 were up 72 percent month-over-month in October, and after accounting for cancellations, net orders of 31,800 hit their fourth consecutive sequential rise, increasing 71 percent from September, but down 42 percent... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for October indicates trailer manufacturers booked 31,900 net orders to their orderboards last month, a 71 percent spike from September and the second straight month of sequential growth greater than 70 percent.... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the primary risk to all vehicle market forecasts, and the U.S. economy broadly, in either direction, remains the trade war with China. With U.S.... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, expectations for the Class 8 and trailer markets anticipate an accelerating pullback in build rates, as freight market conditions remain at a low ebb. While... Read Story

ACT Research released the November installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report covering the truckload, intermodal, LTL and last mile sectors.The ACT Freight Forecast provides three-year forecasts for volumes and... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 22,100 units in October, up 74 percent from September, while Classes 5-7 orders fell 12 percent month over month, to 16,400 units, ACT Research reported. “The North American... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the Class 8 market is moving from 2019 peak activity in sales and build into a substantial correction in 2020. Activity for the total MD market was jumbled in August, confirming the... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the key risk to all vehicle market forecasts, and the U.S. economy broadly, remains the trade war with China. With U.S. manufacturers and farmers... Read Story

Since early 2018, ACT Research’s forecasts have called for the up-cycle in the Class 8 market to run out of steam around the third quarter of 2019, according to ACT’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK.“Over the past... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 12,600 units in September, up 13 percent from August, while Classes 5-7 orders fell 9.4 percent m/m, to 17,300 units, according to Act Research. ACT’s State of the Industry:... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the Class 8 market is moving from 2019 peak activity in sales and build into a significant correction next year. The medium-duty market remained soft in July, solidifying the... Read Story

The average price of total used Class 8 trucks in August dipped 1 percent y/y, the first such decline since January 2018. Month-over-month, prices fell 3 percent, but longer-term, remained 7 percent higher year-to-date. Same-dealer sales rose 9... Read Story

New U.S. trailer orders of 14,800 were up 7 percent month-over-month, and, after accounting for cancellations, net orders of 10,600 hit their second sequential increase in nine months, rising 2 percent from July, but down 72 percent compared to... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for August 2019 net trailer orders is 10,500 units. “On the positive side, total orders were up 7 percent versus July. However, cancellations pulled the net order results down to a 2 percent sequential gain.... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) fell 1 percent month-over-month in August, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research. Additionally, the report... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the key risk to all commercial vehicle market forecasts remains the on-again trade war with China, but well-positioned consumers are keeping the U.S.... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 10,900 units in August, up nearly 6 percent from July, but 79 percent below last August’s best-ever order month, ACT Research reported.“Weak freight market and rate conditions... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research noted the heavy truck and trailer markets, and increasingly the medium duty market, are heading for corrections in 2020, even as the slow growth U.S. economic outlook remains... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, Class 8 market indicators are divergent, with some at all-time highs even as other metrics point to coming weakness. The medium duty market measures are lower in the short-term, but... Read Story

According to the recently released N.A. Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine OUTLOOK, published by ACT Research and Rhein Associates, engines over 10L are projected to account for more than 85 percent of the Class 8 production between 2020 and 2024... Read Story

The average price of total used Class 8 trucks in July dipped 4 percent month-over-month, while rising against longer-term comparison, up 9 percent year-to-date.Same-dealer sales, on the other hand, were flat in July compared to June, but contracted... Read Story

New U.S. trailer orders of 13,900 were up 22 percent month-over-month, and after accounting for cancellations, net orders of 10,300 hit their first sequential increase in nine months, rising 64 percent from June. Year-to-date, however, net trailer... Read Story

According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components Report, trailer industry net orders continued the year-over-year slide that begin at the end of 2018, now negative for seven consecutive months, with preliminary July data showing... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Report, Class 8 market-leading indicators continue to erode, in concert with deteriorating freight volumes and rates, even as mid and downstream data points remain... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) fell 2 percent month-over-month in July, the fourth consecutive sequential drop, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for July 2019 net trailer orders is 9,900 units. Preliminary Net Orders jumped 65 percent versus June but were 66 percent lower than July Last Year.  Final volume will be available later this month. “While net... Read Story

ACT Research released the August installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report covering the truckload, intermodal, LTL and last mile sectors. ACT Research maintained its view that truckload and intermodal contract rates... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 10,200 units in July, down 21 percent from June and the lowest monthly order tally since February 2010, ACT Research announced. “Weak freight market and rate conditions across... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the Class 8 market is on the cusp of a significant correction. At the same time, the medium duty market continued to confound in May, with forward-looking indicators deteriorating... Read Story

New U.S. trailer orders of 11,300 were down 27 percent month-over-month, but after accounting for cancellations, net orders slid to 6,000 units, down 42 percent from May and down 70 percent from June a year ago. Year-to-date net orders are 43 percent... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, June data, showed nearly across-the-board declines, with capacity again the lone exception. The Volume Index dropped further into negative territory, falling to 43.2 (SA) in June, from... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for June 2019 net trailer orders is 6,200 units. Final volume will be available later this month. “Several aspects of June trailer orders were disappointing. Total new orders continued to slide, coming in below... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) fell 8 percent month-over-month in June, the third consecutive sequential drop, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by... Read Story

ACT Research released the July installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK, covering the truckload, intermodal, LTL and last mile sectors.ACT Research maintained its view that truckload and intermodal contract rates will... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, current Class 8 build rates may suggest upside to the 2019 forecast, but large new inventories and deteriorating freight and rate conditions suggest erring... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 13,100 units in June, gaining 20 percent from May’s three-year low, but down a significant 69 percent from year-ago June’s very tough comparison, ACT Research reported. “Weak... Read Story

New U.S. trailer orders of 15,500 were down 16 percent month-over-month, but after accounting for cancellations, net orders slid to 10,500 units, down 28 percent from April. Year-to-date, net orders are 40 percent below last year, according to this... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, Class 8 retail sales and build are starting the summer at near-record high levels, but evidence supporting a change in direction continues to accumulate. At the same time, the... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) fell 14 percent month-over-month in May, the second consecutive sequential drop, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by... Read Story

According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components Report, trailer industry net orders have eased meaningfully since November of 2018, as year-over-year-comparisons have now been in the red for the last five months, but order... Read Story

The average price of total used Class 8 trucks in April was up 6 percent month-over-month and 12 percent higher year-to-date, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research. The... Read Story

New U.S. trailer orders of 18,600 were up 4 percent month-over-month in April, but after accounting for cancellations, net orders slid to 14,700 units, down 6 percent from March. Orders were down 23 percent year over year.Year-to-date, net orders are... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, Class 8 retail sales and build remain at cycle highs, but signs are multiplying that the market momentum will start declining during the second half of this year. At the same time... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, slower freight growth, an easing of driver supply constraints, the resumption of the long-run freight productivity trend and strong Class 8 tractor fleet... Read Story

ACT Research released the May installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report covering the truckload, intermodal, LTL and last mile sectors.“Freight remains soft, as expected, and while we see reasons for recovery in the... Read Story

The average price of total used Class 8 trucks in March was down 5 percent month-over-month, but remained 10 percent higher year-to-date, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT... Read Story

U.S. trailer order volume came in below previous year volume for the fourth straight month in March, but OEMs still booked nearly 16,000 net orders during the month, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S.... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Report, March’s Class 8 metrics generally aligned with expectations, with the lone exception of cancellations, which continued to trend lower.“Data continue to tell the same... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) jumped 25 percent month-over-month in March, following a modest decline in February, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for March 2019 net trailer orders is 15,600 units. Final volume will be available later this month.“It appears that the industry entered a bit of a holding pattern in March, as order volume declined significantly... Read Story

U.S. trailer order volume came in below previous year volume for the third straight month in February, but OEMs still booked nearly 24,000 net orders during the month, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S.... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research's For-Hire Trucking Index showed a downtick in volume, pricing and productivity, with the supply-demand balance continuing trend, loosening for the fourth consecutive month. The Volume Index returned to negative... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 16,900 units in February, up a modest 5 percent from January, but down 58 percent from year-ago February, Act Research reported. “February marks the third consecutive month of... Read Story

According to the recently released N.A. Commercial Vehicle On-Highway Engine OUTLOOK, published by ACT Research and Rhein Associates, Class 8 production is expected to continue its growth trend into 2019, and diesel is still the dominate power source... Read Story

U.S. trailer order volume slid sequentially for the fourth month in a row, but it’s all relative when one considers that more than 26,000 net orders were posted in January, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S.... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research queries whether the current record-setting Class 8 cycle will close differently than previous peak periods. The report provides monthly analysis on transportation trends, equipment... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed an improvement in freight volumes and truck productivity in January, after a soft finish to 2018. The Volume Index rose to 52 in January, from 49 in December.Regarding the... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for January 2019 net trailer orders is 25,800 units. Final volume will be available later this month.“While the industry had the weakest January order volume since 2016, it was still sufficient enough to generate... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) improved moderately in January, rising 4 percent month-over-month, following two sequential declines, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used... Read Story

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, yellow lights continue to flash for the U.S. economy, and by extension for the North American commercial vehicle industry.“While the outlook has less... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 15,800 units in January, down 26 percent from December and 68 percent from year-ago January, ACT Research reported. “With near-record backlogs in both the medium and heavy-duty... Read Story

U.S. trailer order volume slid sequentially for the third month in a row, but it is all relative when one considers that nearly 28,000 net orders were posted in December, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S.... Read Story

According to the recently released ACT Research’s Transportation Digest, the Class 8 truck market started 2019 with powerful positive momentum from a remarkable and record-setting 2018. In the Classes 5-7 market, the truck segment made yet another... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed the Volume Index still in negative territory, below the 50 neutral mark, in December, at 48.1. The supply-demand balance turned down even further, hitting 44.3 on a seasonally... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for December 2018 net trailer orders is 27,800 units, 39 percent from November. Full-year 2018 orders totaled more than 420,000, rising 35 percent.  “Considering the long-running order strength, December’s pause... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) slipped for a second consecutive month in December (-7 percent), marking the first time since January 2016 that same dealer sales have fallen below 2,000 units, according to the latest preliminary... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 21,300 units in December, down 24 percent sequentially from November and 43 percent from year-ago December, Act Research reported. “For all of 2018, Class 8 orders totaled... Read Story

At the top line, North American Class 8 net orders totaled 28,082 units in November, compared to build at 27,973 units, according to ACT Research.“As we move into the year’s home stretch, freight-related data points continue to shift from strong... Read Story

The average price of total used Class 8 trucks in November was up 10 percent year-to-date, when compared to the first 11 months of 2017, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT... Read Story

U.S. trailer order volume slid sequentially for the second month in a row, but it’s all relative when one considers that more than 45,000 net orders were posted in November, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S... Read Story

The Class 8 truck market continued to extend all-time records for backlog and cumulative annual orders, according to a recent release of ACT Research’s Transportation Digest. The medium duty market ran like a well-oiled machine in October... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed the Volume Index dropping into negative territory, at 48.1, in November, for the first time in 27 months (50 is neutral). The supply-demand balance turned down even further, hitting... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for November 2018 net trailer orders is 43,600 units--marking the the fifth-best month in industry history for trailer OEMs.“Trailer orders continued to set records in November. Led by dry vans, OEMs saw the... Read Story

Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) reversed course again in November, falling month-over-month and more than offsetting October’s gain, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 27,900 units in November, down 36 percent sequentially from October, but only 15 percent lower from November 2017, ACT Research reported.“Through year-to-date November, Class 8... Read Story

After September’s all-time net order record, volume softened only a small degree in October, with volumes ranked as the second-best month in industry history at more than 55,000 trailers entering the orderboard, according to this month’s issue of ACT... Read Story

The ACT For-Hire Trucking Survey Volume Index (seasonally adjusted) rebounded in October, to 55.9 from 51.8 in September, according to a recent release of ACT Research’s Transportation Digest. However, the report noted that this remains below the... Read Story

The U.S. trailer industry set net order records throughout the third quarter of 2018, with both July and August being the strongest months in industry history, according to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components Report. The quarter... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed the supply-demand balance rising to 55.6 on a seasonally adjusted basis in October, from 50.1 in September. The strong increase in the Volume Index and the downtick in the Capacity... Read Story

At the top line, North American Class 8 net orders totaled 43,256 units in October, a moderation from the July-August records, but 21 percent better than the year-ago mark, according to ACT Research.“Class 8 net order activity experienced a second... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for October 2018 net trailer orders is 55,250 units. “After posting the highest monthly net order volume in history in September, the trailer industry continued at a breakneck pace in October. Our projection ranks... Read Story

September marked the second consecutive month of moderating freight-related industry metrics, and early indications suggest the trend continued in October, according to ACT Research’s latest release of the ACT North American Commercial Vehicle... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 43,600 units in October, up 1.9 percent sequentially from September, but only 21 percent from year-ago October, compared to recent year-over-year gains such as the 181 percent... Read Story

The average price of total used Class 8 trucks in September rose 3 percent month-over-month and fared even better, up 9 percent year-to-date, when compared to the first nine months of 2017, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry... Read Story

September orders continued to reflect the early opening to the 2018/19 order season. Total trailer net orders of more than 58,000 units were up 52 percent month over month and 135 percent better than a year ago, according to this month’s issue of ACT... Read Story

U.S. and Canadian Natural Gas Class 8 truck retail sales rose 13 percent in 2017, but shed 28 percent year-to-date through August 2018, according to a recent quarterly report (Natural Gas & Alternative Fuels Quarterly) released by ACT Research.... Read Story

At the top line, North American Class 8 net orders totaled 42,781 units in September, a 19 percent decline from August’s all-time record, but still the seventh time in nine months in which industry orders cracked 40,000 units, according to ACT... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for September 2018 net trailer orders is 58,200 units—a monthly record net order volume.“Fleets reached a never-before-seen trailer order level in September. OEMs booked over 58k trailers last month, shattering the... Read Story

The average price of total used Class 8 trucks in August was virtually flat, up 1 percent, on a month-over-month basis, but fared better when compared to August 2017, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used... Read Story

August orders continued to reflect the early opening to the 2018/19 order season. Total trailer net orders of more than 38,000 units were up 31 percent month over month and 142 percent better than this time last year, according to this month’s issue... Read Story

At the top line, North American Class 8 net orders totaled 53,069 units in August, marking the sixth time in eight months in which industry orders cracked 40,000 units and another record-setting month, according to ACT Research.“Robust orders in June... Read Story

  ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for August 2018 net trailer orders is 38,200 units. “Fleets continued to invest at a torrid pace in August, following a robust July. Industry net orders of 38,200 trailers were up more than 30 percent from July... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 53,100 units in August, breaking the all-time record set last month in another typically weak order intake month of the year, ACT Research reported. “Preliminary data indicate... Read Story

At more than twice the level of last July, and the strongest July in industry history, more than 29,000 net orders were booked in July. According to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report, every trailer... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for July 2018 net trailer orders is 29,300 units. Final July volume will be available later this month. “After a steady June, fleets came roaring back into the market in July. OEMs had their strongest July net... Read Story

ACT Research released its landmark study, Commercial Vehicle Electrification: To Charge or Not To Charge, to charter subscribers this summer and now is making this report available to the public.Driven by a combination of advances in battery... Read Story

U.S. and Canadian Natural Gas Class 8 truck retail sales rose 13 percent in 2017, but shed 18 percent year-to-date through May 2018. Sales from January through May 2017 were down 14 percent from the first five months of the previous year.“As we can... Read Story

The average price of total used Class 8 trucks in June was flat on a month-over-month basis, but fared better, rising 15 percent, when compared to June 2017, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks... Read Story

While orders have been extremely strong, the industry’s long string of year over year net order gains came to an end in June. According to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report, net orders of 20,048 trailers... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed the supply-demand balance falling to 54 on a seasonally adjusted basis in June from 60.9 in May. This reverses much of the April/May rebound, amid both softer volume and faster... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 42,200 units in June, exceeding 40,000 units for the fourth time in six months, ACT Research reported.“Preliminary net order data indicate that demand for Class 8 trucks... Read Story

Seasonal patterns predicted a significant sequential net order decline in May. Net orders were 22,900, not seasonally adjusted, off only 2 percent month-over-month, but this translated to a 27 percent increase when compared with May 2017. According... Read Story

Following flat volumes in April, the 3 percent month-over-month decline in May was not unexpected, as historical data indicates used truck sales volumes usually dip in late spring. Longer-term comparisons, however, show used truck sales volumes up 12... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed the supply-demand balance building on its return to positive territory last month, following an anomalous dip onto the negative side of the ledger in March. May’s reading was 61.4... Read Story

At the top line, North American Class 8 net orders totaled 35,608 units in May. While below the 492,000 seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of first-quarter’s orders, May’s 478,000 SAAR continues the trend of order activity well above industry... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for May 2018 net trailer orders is 23,300 units. “Fleet investment continues at a torrid pace. Net trailer orders were up year-over-year for the 18th straight month in May. While normal seasonal patterns call for a... Read Story

Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 35,600 units in 2018’s fifth month, ACT Research reports.“Preliminary net order data indicate that demand for Class 8 trucks continued in robust fashion in May,” said Kenny... Read Story

Despite short-term stability, used Class 8 truck sales volumes were up 10 percent year-to-date, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research. The report also indicated the... Read Story

While the preliminary estimate was 23,100, ACT Research is now reporting that the trailer industry closed April a bit stronger, with just below 24,000 net orders.“The final result outpaced our preliminary estimate, an indication of the continuing... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed a rebound in the supply-demand balance. After turning to a deficit in March for the first time in 15 months, the supply-demand balance returned to positive territory in April, as... Read Story

At the top line, North American Class 8 net orders totaled 34,735 units in April. While below the 492,000 seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of Q1’s orders, April’s 421,000 SAAR continues the trend of order activity well above industry... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for April 2018 net trailer orders is 23,100 units. “April was the 17th consecutive month of year-over-year gains for net orders, an indication of strong fleet confidence in current business conditions, as well as a... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck same dealer sales volumes improved for the third consecutive month; on a year-over-year basis, sales volumes were up 1 percent, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published... Read Story

Were it not for the frenzied ordering ahead of EPA’07 during the first quarter of 2006, the first quarter of 2018 would have ranked as the best quarter in history for North American Class 8 orders. Instead, this year's Q1 was No. 2, averaging 45,400... Read Story

U.S. and Canadian Natural Gas Class 8 truck retail sales rose 13 percent in 2017 but shed 23 percent year-to-date through February 2018, ACT Research reported. “After a relatively strong Q4, it isn’t surprising that Q1 might be a bit soft. On a... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed that for the first time in the past 15 months, the capacity index rose faster than the freight index, inflecting to a deteriorating supply-demand balance.“In March, the combination... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for March 2018 net trailer orders is 29,500 units. “Strong freight demand and tight capacity have encouraged fleets to continue to invest in new equipment. Improving freight rates will positively impact their... Read Story

Total Class 8 used truck prices rose 3 percent year-over-year in February, but dipped 2 percent month-over-month, while average mileage was flat compared to last February and the average age was lower on a year-over-year basis, according to the... Read Story

The order onslaught continued in February, with NA Class 8 net orders falling from January’s second-best ever to a more pedestrian seventh-best 40,271 units, with backlogs rising in tandem, according to ACT Research (ACT). NA Class 8 net orders have... Read Story

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed the fleet equipment purchase intentions are strong, that they have or plan to increase driver pay, and that they currently have power in contract negotiations with... Read Story

ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for February 2018 net trailer orders is 33,000 units. Final February volume will be available later this month. Its methodology allows ACT to generate a preliminary estimate of the market that should be within +/-... Read Story

Total Class 8 used truck prices rose 2% year-over-year in January, but dipped 3% month-over-month, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.“Dealers are reporting that there... Read Story

Following historically strong net order volumes in 2017’s final two months, January U.S. trailer net orders continued the pattern, booking the fifth best order month in history. “Reefers led the way booking that product’s strongest month in history... Read Story

Total Class 8 used truck sales fell 9% year-over-year in December, but were down just 1% for full-year 2017 compared to 2016, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT... Read Story

North American Class 8 orders ended 2017 with a bang, rising to a 37-month high 37,500-plus units, according to ACT Research Co. (ACT). Strong orders since September have boosted Class 8 backlogs, setting the stage for a healthy uptick in Class 8... Read Story

ACT’s preliminary estimate for December 2017 net trailer orders is 45,200 units. Final December volume will be available later this month. Our methodology allows us to generate a preliminary estimate of the market that should be within +/- 3% of the... Read Story

Class 8 same dealer used truck sales dropped by 17% last month following the unexpected climb in October, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.“Seasonal weakness is not... Read Story

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated that the freight index rose faster than the capacity index for the eleventh consecutive month, allowing the supply-demand balance to climb to the second highest reading ever recorded. “The... Read Story

There has been an increase in heavy duty natural gas use from the refuse industry, which has been adding new natural gas-powered trucks in significant volume, as noted in the N.A. On-highway CV Engine Outlook, by Americas Commercial Transportation... Read Story

Class 8 same dealer used truck sales volumes continued their upward climb in October with the best month of 2017 thus far. October volumes increased 12% month over month, up 37% from October last year, according to the latest release of the State of... Read Story

Backlog continued to be positive in October, with a stronger than expected improvement of 6% month over month and 8% year over year. “Eight of ten categories were up month over month, with liquid tanks and reefers the outliers,” said Frank Maly... Read Story

As reported earlier this month, orders for Class 8 vehicles surged in October, rising to a 35-month high 36,033 units. “Following a high-side breakout in September, Class 8 orders exploded in October as large fleets returned to the U.S. market, and... Read Story

Class 8 same dealer used truck sales volumes rose by two dozen units in September, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.“Long term, the outlook is positive, with volumes... Read Story

Despite the previously reported improvement in September’s heavy duty orders, even stronger production during the month weighed on backlogs, which contracted for a fifth consecutive month. “Backlogs typically decline in September. When we seasonally... Read Story

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated that September’s Productivity reading, a measure of industry utilization, advanced again sequentially, and marked the highest level reported since March 2011. “Seasonally adjusted, the... Read Story

Class 8 same dealer used truck sales volumes gained some ground in August, following two consecutive months of declines, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research. “Channel... Read Story

August ties March for the longest trailer OEM work schedule of the year, which is also three days longer than July. Capitalizing on the additional work days, a sequential increase in U.S. trailer build was expected in August. “The longer schedule... Read Story

Fifty-nine percent of August’s North American Class 8 orders are scheduled for build this year, and the fill rates are generally in line with historical averages. “Based on the build plans, Q4 was filled to 62% versus a historical fill rate of 69%,”... Read Story

Class 8 same dealer used truck sales volumes continued to decline in July, falling 5% month-over-month, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research. “Channel analysis indicates... Read Story

North American Class 8 production increased in July, boosted by the continued strength of orders. “After cutting 3,000 units from the Class 8 build plan last month, the OEMs added back nearly 6,000 units in July,” said Steve Tam, ACT Research’s Vice... Read Story

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated that July’s volume reading advanced for the seventh consecutive month to 57.1. While down from June, the freight index was almost 20 points above the reading in the same month last year.... Read Story

Total trailer production surpassed 27,000 June, capitalizing on one of the longer work schedules of the year. “Eight of ten trailer categories had higher production month over month,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research... Read Story

ACT’s preliminary estimate for June net trailer orders is 20,375 units. Final June volume will be available later this month. ACT's methodology allows them to generate a preliminary estimate of the market that should be within +/- 3% of the final... Read Story

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated that June’s volume reading advanced for the sixth consecutive month to 72.0, soaring to the highest level since March 2014, and almost 20 points above the reading in the same month last... Read Story

China 2016 and 2017 government policy changes have brought a one-time increase in heavy duty and medium duty commercial vehicle populations, according to the most recent China Commercial Vehicle Outlook, jointly published quarterly by ACT and China’s... Read Story

Following the first quarter’s stronger orders, production picked up starting in April. In May, a long month and a rising build rate conspired to drive NA Class 8 production to an 18-month high. “Annualized, May’s production rate equals a full-year... Read Story

Class 8 same dealer used truck sales volumes dropped in April, breaking a three-month run of double-digit gains, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research. Total volumes for... Read Story

ACT’s preliminary estimate for April Net Trailer Orders is 20,200 units. Final April volume will be available later this month. ACT's methodology allows the company to generate a preliminary estimate of the market that should be within +/- 3% of the... Read Story

The latest release of  ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated that April’s volume reading grew slower following last month’s three-year high, although evidencing clear acceleration in the growth trend. This also marked the seventh consecutive month... Read Story

Following eight consecutive months with steadily higher volumes, North American Medium Duty & Heavy Duty Classes 5-8 net orders moderated in April’s preliminary reading, sliding 13% from March to 42,500 units. All of the month-over-month decline in... Read Story

Facilitated by the additional build days, trailer production jumped 25% from February, the highest level since March of last year. “Roughly 60% of the month-over-month gain came from the additional build days in the quarter-ending month, while the... Read Story

Class 8 same dealer used truck sales volumes continued to show strength in the closing month of the first quarter, increasing month-over-month with a third sequential double-digit rise, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry:... Read Story

ACT Research reports that thanks to the healthy order levels noted at the beginning of the month, coupled with what are still fairly restrained build levels, Class 8 backlogs increased again in March. The month-ending data from March indicates that... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck same dealer sales volumes started 2017 on a positive note, up markedly compared to a relatively weak January 2016. Somewhat uncharacteristically, sales also rose from December, marking a second consecutive month-over-month increase... Read Story

The industry closed the first month of the year with orders up 92% year-over-year, however volume was still off 6% sequentially, as total net orders approached 33,000 units. Seasonal adjustment made January the best order month in the past fixteen. ... Read Story

Class 8 backlogs moved in the right direction at the start of 2017. “Stronger orders, coupled with modest build, allowed backlogs to rise 7,600 units from December to 99,600 units,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT Research President and Senior Analyst. Heavy... Read Story

NA Class 8 retail sales firmed into the end of 2016 in seasonal fashion, rising to a six-month high 21,281 units sold, and bringing the full-year sales total to 249,952 units. Set against strengthening orders, seasonal production weakness reduced... Read Story

In December, preliminary North America Classes 5-8 net order data show the industry booked 42,000 units, bringing the full-year net order tally to 415,600. Note that these numbers are preliminary. Complete industry data for December, including final... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck same dealer sales increased again in November, recording a 1% month-over-month increase, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research. Historically, November... Read Story

New and net trailer orders surged in November, strongly indicating that the trailer buying season has begun. Driven mostly by Dry Vans, November net orders climbed 71% month-over-month, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S.... Read Story

Class 8 net orders moved upward in November, following the weak, cancellation heavy numbers reported last month. November new orders totaled 21,108 units, with the net at 19,440 units. “In addition to rising 40% from October, November marked the... Read Story

ACT’s preliminary estimate for November, 2016 U.S. net trailer orders is 36,300 units; final November volumes will be available later this month. According to ACT, their methodology allows ACT to generate an early estimate of the market that should... Read Story

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed that the modest improvements in the past few months continued in November. The pricing index inched forward to its highest reported number in the past twelve months, with a reading of 55.1.... Read Story

For the month of November, preliminary Classes 5-8 order data show the industry booked 36,600 net orders. Note that these numbers are preliminary. Complete industry data for November, including final order numbers, will be published in... Read Story

New and net trailer orders climbed in October, driven both by Dry Vans and Reefers. Even with October’s rebound though, orders are still behind from last year by a wide margin, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers... Read Story

The pricing index bounced to its highest reported number in the past twelve months in October with a reading of 52.7, according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT). Twenty-five percent of respondents... Read Story

For the month of October, preliminary Classes 5-8 order data show the industry booked 32,400 net orders. Note that these numbers are preliminary. Complete industry data for October, to include final order numbers, will be published in... Read Story

U.S. and Canadian natural gas Class 8 truck retail sales declined in the June to August period. Year-to-date sales through August continued to lose ground, falling 29% behind last year’s comparable level from a reading of 25% lower for year-to-date... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck same dealer truck sales fell 11% month-over-month in September. The drop reversed a growth trend that started in February, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT... Read Story

For the fourth time in the past five months the freight index rose faster than the capacity index, according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT). While the changes remain small, the data suggest that excess... Read Story

Total North American Class 8 truck production peaked in 2015, with ACT predicting lower demand in 2016 and 2017 followed by recovery. A preemission boom is forecasted in 2019 and 2020, before a sharp drop into 2021, according to a new report by... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck same dealer sales volumes continued to show volatility in August, yet remained on a positive trend, including a 19% increase over July. Enhanced by the latter, long term comparisons show 2016 being off by only 2% year-to-date... Read Story

Class 8 net orders rose to a three-month high of 14,200 in August, aided in part by cancellations, which fell to a 33-month low. Seasonally adjusted, Class 8 orders were the best since March at 16,000 units. Medium-duty net orders were up m/m... Read Story

Trailer net orders rose 52% month over month in August, but contracted a disappointing 37% year over year, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT).“Much of August’s improvement came from... Read Story

For the third time in the past four months, the freight volume index is a nice change after last month’s worst-in-4-years print. The recent shift to positive in this metric since May suggests that if conditions are not exactly improving at this point... Read Story

The supply of Class 8 trucks rose faster than demand for the fifth time this year, according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT).Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst, noted that the balance... Read Story

Act Research reports that for the month of July, 25,000 new Classes 5-8 vehicle orders were booked. Of those, Class 8 garnered 10,500 orders and for Classes 5-7, 14,500 orders were placed. Note that these numbers are preliminary. Final July numbers... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck same dealer sales volumes swung upward in June, posting a double-digit month-over-month increase, following a sharp decline in May, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks... Read Story

U.S. and Canadian natural gas Class 8 truck retail sales improved in May, after getting off to a slow start earlier in the year, according to a recent report from ACT Research. The “Natural Gas Quarterly” attributes this to a high number of natural... Read Story

Trailer net orders fell nearly 14% month over month, and contracted 10% year over year, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT).“New orders continued to ease in May, following seasonally... Read Story

In 2015, diesel engines made up 98.5% of the North American Class 8 vehicle market, but the forecast expects this dominance to lessen by 2021, according to a new report by Americas Commercial Transportation (ACT) Research and Rhein Associates. The... Read Story

Americas Commercial Transportation (ACT) Research and Rhein Associates are pleased to announce the inaugural publication of a new cooperative venture, the N.A. On-highway CV Engine Outlook report. The Engine Outlook, available now, is designed to... Read Story

For the month of May, 31,400 new Classes 5-8 vehicle orders were booked. Class 8 garnered 14,300 orders and for Classes 5-7, 17,100 orders were placed. Note that these numbers are preliminary. Final May numbers will be published in mid-June.“Three... Read Story

Trailer net orders rose 12% month over month, but contracted 7% year over year, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT).“New orders continued to meander in April, the result of fleet... Read Story

The supply of Class 8 trucks continues to rise faster than demand for trucks, according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT).“For an eighth consecutive month the fleet capacity index has risen faster than... Read Story

Trailer net orders fell 30% month over month and 36% year over year, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT).“The 2015/16 order season ended not with a bang but a whimper, not entirely... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck metrics continued to be mixed in March, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.“March Class 8 used truck volumes, up 8% m/m, continued their upward trek... Read Story

Class 8 orders dropped 10% month over month and 35% year over year in March, to a total of 16,354 units. Medium duty net orders totaled 13,242, down 3% from February, but up 10% year over year. These results were published in the latest State of the... Read Story

The supply of Class 8 trucks continues to rise faster than demand for trucks, according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research.“The capacity index [supply] rose faster than the freight index [demand] for the seventh... Read Story

Trailer net orders rose 26% month over month and 3.5% year over year according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT).“Large fleets continue to drive the market, and low cancellations show that... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck metrics continued to be mixed in February, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.“February Class 8 used truck volumes appeared to be getting an early... Read Story

Class 8 booked 18,078 net orders in February, down 42% year over year, while Classes 5-7 net orders were the highest since December 2014 at 22,316 units. These results were published in the latest State of the Industry report, recently released by... Read Story

Sequential changes in U.S. trailer data were directionally correct…orders were down, inventory and build rates were up, and cancellations were inconsequential, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck metrics continued to be mixed in January, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.“Keeping with the seasonal trend of weak early-year sales, used Class 8... Read Story

Class 8 booked 18,247 net orders in January, down 48% year over year, while Classes 5-7 net orders were flat year over year at 17,400 units. These results were published in the latest State of the Industry report, recently released by ACT Research Co... Read Story

The supply of Class 8 trucks continues to rise faster than demand for trucks according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT).“The capacity index [supply] rose faster than the freight index [demand] for the... Read Story

For the month of January, 36,400 Classes 5-8 vehicle orders were booked. That was the third lowest volume of the past 8 months. Note that these numbers are preliminary. Actual numbers will be published in mid-January.“Economic reports over the course... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck metrics continued to be mixed in December, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.“December unit sales rebounded from November, but were flat... Read Story

U.S. and Canadian natural gas Class 8 truck retail sales started 2015 with slow growth and are ending the year in the same fashion, according to a recent report from ACT Research. The “Natural Gas Quarterly” attributes this to the continuing decline... Read Story

Class 8 booked 28,150 net new orders in December, while Classes 5-7 posted 22,450 net orders. These results were published in the latest State of the Industry report, recently released by ACT Research Co. (ACT). The report covers Classes 5 through 8... Read Story

The supply of Class 8 trucks continues to rise faster than demand for trucks according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT).“The capacity index [supply] rose faster than the freight index [demand] for the... Read Story

For the month of December, 49,700 Classes 5-8 vehicle orders were booked, up 40% month over month. Note: these numbers are preliminary. Actual numbers will be published in mid-January.“December’s volume represented the strongest aggregate month for... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck metrics continued to be mixed in November. Unit sales shrank 23% m/m, despite longer term comparisons being flat to slightly up, with same dealer sales volumes gaining 4% y/y and 1% YTD relative to the same period in 2014... Read Story

Trailer net orders in November gained 18% m/m and 10% y/y. According to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT), the solid order season continues for this segment of the commercial vehicle industry.“It... Read Story

Class 8 booked 16,770 net new orders in November, while Classes 5-7 posted 18,850 net orders. These results were published in the latest State of the Industry report, recently released by ACT Research Co. (ACT). The report covers Classes 5 through 8... Read Story

The supply of Class 8 trucks continues to rise faster than demand for trucks according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT).“The capacity index [supply] rose faster than the freight index [demand] for the... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck metrics continued to be mixed in October. Volumes shrank 3% m/m, despite longer term comparisons being stable, with volumes down a mere 1% y/y and the past nine months flat, relative to the same period in 2014, according to the... Read Story

Trailer net orders in October, exceeding 33,000 units, were down 7% from September and 30% on a year-over-year basis. Nevertheless, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT), the solid order... Read Story

Class 8 booked 25,900 net new orders in October, while Classes 5-7 posted 21,900 net orders. These results were published in the latest State of the Industry report, recently released by ACT Research Co. (ACT). The report covers Classes 5 through 8... Read Story

Freight volumes in October were disappointing according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT). More broadly, the October survey was in line with other reports showing softer freight conditions.“ACT Research’s... Read Story

Trailer net orders in September, at nearly 36,000 units, rose almost 47% from August’s pace, up 12% on a year-over-year basis, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT).“While September’s... Read Story

The supply of Class 8 trucks continues to rise faster than demand for trucks according to the most recent ACT For-Hire Trucking Index from ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT).“The capacity index [supply] rose faster than the freight index [demand] for the... Read Story

Used Class 8 truck metrics were generally in line on a year-to-date basis, but all except volumes fell slightly when compared m/m and y/y. Volumes lost 7% m/m, but were up 2% y/y, while average mileage decreased 3% and 5%, respectively. The average... Read Story

Trailer net orders in August, at more than 24,500 units, rose nearly 21% from July’s pace, but eased 0.4% on a year-over-year basis, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT).“The industry... Read Story

Class 8 booked nearly 20,200 net new orders in August, while Classes 5-7 posted almost 17,900 net orders. These results were published in the latest State of the Industry report, recently released by ACT Research Co. (ACT). The report covers Classes... Read Story