Moving from an in-person to a virtual platform, ACT Research began its 63rd Seminar on August 11, with a panel discussion about the current state and future of US economics. Panelists included Patrick Manzi, Senior Economist for NADA, as well as ACT’s Principal, Industry Analyst, Jim Meil, and Chief Economist, Sam Kahan.
ACT Research’s 63rd Seminar Headlined with Economic and CV Discussions on Day One
Topics: freight rate, logistics, Classes 5-8, NA CV OUTLOOK, 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, us freight, last mile delivery, heavy duty truck, north american trailer
ACT Research: Freight-Generating Sectors Starting to Mend
According to ACT’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, at 128 months, the current US economic expansion is the longest on record, surpassing the previous cycle record (1992-2001) by eight months and counting. And with solid consumer fundamentals, no obvious imbalances, and already having weathered the manufacturing downturn to date, it is harder to see a recession now than it was six months ago.
Topics: freight, logistics, NA CV OUTLOOK, Press Releases, class 5-8 trucks, class 8 trucks, 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, HeavyDuty, heavy duty truck, class8
ACT Research: Class 8 Cyclicality Alive and Well, Including Regulatory Impacts
According to ACT’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 January 6, the EPA released an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), which promises the return of demand altering regulations that target tailpipe emissions. On top of normal cyclicality is the expectation that the CARB and EPA ANPRs will ultimately transition into [potentially expensive] demand-swinging regulations in the coming decade.
Topics: logistics, NA CV OUTLOOK, Press Releases, class 5-8 trucks, class 8 trucks, commercial truck report, supply chain, medium duty truck, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, HeavyDuty, heavy duty truck, class8
ACT Research: Main Risk to N.A. CV Market Forecasts Remains the Trade War with China; Key Driver of Growth Is US Consumer
According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, the primary risk to all vehicle market forecasts, and the US economy broadly, in either direction, remains the trade war with China. With US manufacturers and farmers struggling to compete on the tilted global playing field, the key driver of growth in the mid-term outlook is the US consumer, who remains well positioned to keep the economy out of the ditch.
Topics: freight, transportation, logistics, shipping, Classes 5-8, Economy, NA CV OUTLOOK, Press Releases, class 5-8 trucks, class 8 trucks, commercial truck report, supply chain, medium duty truck, commercial vehicle sales data, truck market, north american trucking, class 8 truck, american truck and trailer, commercial truck and trailer, transportation industry news, trucking, demand planning, commercial freight shipping, trailer production, HeavyDuty, Economics, semitruck, heavy duty truck, GDP
ACT Research: Heavy Duty Market Anticipating Accelerating Pullback in Build Rates
According to ACT’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 less cliff-like, medium duty market indicators continue to support a modest correction into 2020.
Topics: shipping, Classes 5-8, Economy, NA CV OUTLOOK, Press Releases, class 5-8 trucks, class 8 trucks, commercial truck report, 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, intermodal, demand planning, us freight, commercial freight shipping, freight rates, HeavyDuty, Economics, semitruck, heavy duty truck, GDP
Businesses depend on data to make decisions and solve problems. Businesses in the commercial vehicle markets depend on ACT Research for their data needs. When OEMs, suppliers, and investment firms need information on the market, ACT Research is the leading resource in the industry for analysis and data, providing both a future look at the market in the North America Commercial Vehicle Outlook, as well as a current market analysis in the State of the Industry: North American Classes 5-8 report. In the Classes 5-8 report, ACT receives monthly data for Classes 5-8 directly from the OEMs. ACT Research has been collecting this data since 1996, publishing a report and database rich in market indicators of the commercial vehicle markets. Indicators include backlog, build (production), inventory, new order, cancellation, net order, factory shipment and retail sales statistics monthly from all major North American Classes 5-8 vehicle manufacturers. Data cover the U.S., Canadian, Mexican, and export markets. A list of ACT’s commercial motor vehicle definitions can be found below.

Topics: freight, freight forecast, freight rate, transportation, logistics, shipping, Classes 5-8, NA CV OUTLOOK, class 5-8 trucks, class 8 trucks, commercial truck report
ACT Research: Key Risk to N.A. CV Market Forecasts Is Trade War with China, But Consumers Are Driving Near to Mid-Term Economic Outlook
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 US economy out of the ditch.
Topics: freight rate, transportation, logistics, shipping, Classes 5-8, Economy, NA CV OUTLOOK, Press Releases
ACT Research: Heavy Duty Market Conditions Continue to Deteriorate
According to ACT Research’s (ACT) latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, expectations for the Class 8 and trailer markets anticipate an immanent pullback in build rates, as market conditions continue to deteriorate.
Topics: freight, freight rate, transportation, logistics, shipping, Trailers, Classes 5-8, Economy, NA CV OUTLOOK, Press Releases, class 5-8 trucks, commercial truck report
North America Classes 5-8 Vehicles Report and Database
Understanding the current commercial vehicle market is pertinent for so many businesses. For sales projections and budgeting and many more reasons, understanding the current state of the industry is why ACT Research developed it's State of the Industry series, particularly the N.A. Classes 5-8 report.
Topics: freight, freight forecast, freight rate, transportation, logistics, shipping, Classes 5-8, NA CV OUTLOOK, class 5-8 trucks, class 8 trucks, commercial truck report, supply chain
Transportation Transparency: Freight Rates , Volume and Forecasting
An article released by the Wall Street Journal on September 1, 2019 discusses the impact that the 2018 boom in Classes 5-8 truck manufacturing has had on freight in 2019.
Falling freight rates (as much as 20%) have been attributed to "more trucks than there are loads" for truckers and shippers.
Topics: freight, freight forecast, freight rate, transportation, logistics, shipping, Classes 5-8, NA CV OUTLOOK, Used Trucks, class 5-8 trucks, commercial truck report, supply chain