The latest release of ACT’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.

Topics: freight, freight forecast, freight rate, logistics, ACT For-Hire Trucking Index, Press Releases, supply chain, truck freight, north american trucking, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, intermodal, truck freight rates, demand planning, us freight, commercial freight shipping, last mile delivery, freight rates

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in February were 43,800 units, up 4% from January, and a 212% improvement from year-ago February. NA Classes 5-7 demand, with orders at 25,400 units, slid 4% sequentially but were still up 12% compared to last February. Complete industry data for February, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-March.

Topics: freight rate, logistics, Press Releases, supply chain, medium duty truck, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, truck freight, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, heavy duty truck, class8

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% above current build rates.

Topics: logistics, Trailers, Press Releases, TrailerComponents, supply chain, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, truck freight, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, commercial trailer, us trailer, trailer production, north american trailer, class8

Day three of ACT Research’s semi-annual Outlook Seminar featured two panel discussions, the first included three fleet executives, while the second covered freight and logistic topics.

Topics: freight, logistics, Press Releases, supply chain, medium duty truck, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, truck freight, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, heavy duty truck, class8

Day two of ACT Research’s semi-annual Outlook Seminar began with a concentration of industry speakers talking about emerging technology, particularly electric powertrains and the use of hydrogen fuel. John Bennett, Meritor’s Vice President and Chief Technology Officer discussed electric powertrain options for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, while Dominik Beckman, Director of Marketing & Dealer Operations from Hino Motors, gave an OEM’s perspective on emerging technology, and Jeff Seger, Cummins’ Executive Director, Fuel Cell & Battery Powertrain Integration, provided the audience with that organization’s perspective on hydrogen technology.

Topics: freight rate, logistics, Press Releases, EV, supply chain, medium duty truck, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, truck freight, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, heavy duty truck, commercial vehicle electrification, class8, commercial electric vehicle

ACT Research began its 64th Seminar on February 23 via a virtual platform, with a panel discussion about the current state and future of US economics. Panelists included Ryan Reed, Director of Investor Relations at Wabash National, as well as ACT’s Principal, Industry Analyst, Jim Meil, and Chief Economist, Sam Kahan.

Topics: freight, freight forecast, freight rate, logistics, Press Releases, supply chain, medium duty truck, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, truck freight, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, truck freight rates, heavy duty truck, north american trailer, class8

January net US trailer orders of 30,680 units fell more than 30% from the previous month, but rose nearly 105% compared to January of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 32.1k units were down 30% versus December, but 91% better than the previous January, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report.

Topics: logistics, Trailers, Press Releases, supply chain, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, truck freight, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, commercial trailer, us trailer, trailer production, north american trailer, class8

According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Report, although 2021 is starting much like January of 2018, there are steep front-end challenges to production.

Topics: freight rate, logistics, Press Releases, supply chain, medium duty truck, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, truck freight, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, heavy duty truck, class8

Preliminary reports indicate that January net order volume of 29.1k trailers was up 94% from the same month last year. That was also down 33% from December 2020 bookings. Final January volume will be available later this month. This preliminary market estimate should be within +/- 3% of the final order tally.

Topics: logistics, Trailers, Press Releases, supply chain, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, truck freight, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, commercial trailer, us trailer, trailer production, north american trailer, class8

According to ACT’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 Class 8 and van trailer production in 2021.

Topics: freight rate, logistics, Press Releases, supply chain, medium duty truck, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, truck freight, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, heavy duty truck, class8