Class 8 truck orders are posting double- and triple-digit increases, and while that’s good news, it’s creating another challenge, according to analysts. Order levels up 31 percent from March to April and up 157 percent in year-over-year numbers have created a backlog that’s nearing a five-year high. A senior analysts with ACT Research Co., is even predicting all the build slots for this year could be filled by July. The “good problem to have” will be Continue Reading

Preliminary data released by FTR Associates for net Class 8 truck orders for April show another strong month for the industry. Last month’s numbers rose 32 percent over March, which posted a 20 percent increase over February’s numbers. The annualized rate for the past three months is at 362,700 units, and includes the United States, Canada, Mexico and exports. The concern being expressed now is whether manufacturers and suppliers are well-stocked enough to meet this growing demand. This is affecting how FTR Associates may develop forecast numbers, as the research firm has Continue Reading

Used prices for heavy-duty Class 8 trucks continue to climb, according to the latest report from ACT Research Co. The average sales price rose 6 percent from February to March. The research firm is also reporting the average miles for vehicles in the used market also continued to increase. As inventory continues to be tight, the prediction is that used prices will continue to rise, particularly for late-model, lower-mileage vehicles. Data is based on the ACT Used Truck database participants, who report approximately 2,700 transactions per month. ACT estimates that approximately 10 percent of Continue Reading

Prelimary data released by FTR Associates yesterday shows Class 8 truck orders continue to gain strength. January numbers show a 1 percent increase over December 2010′s strong activity. Compared to one year ago, orders for January this year show a 324 percent increase over January 2010. Just the prior three months show net order activity at 319,500 units. These figures includes the United States, Canada, Mexico and Continue Reading

Both sales of used Class 8 commercial vehicles and trailers finished last year strong, with sales being up 21 percent and 7 percent respectively from the previous month, according to the latest figures from ACT Research Co. Tight supply and strong demand for late-model, low-mileage trucks will continue to drive up prices of used Class 8 trucks. Overall, retail sales for used trucks were up 31 percent. Commercial trailer net orders, on the Continue Reading

The strengthening demand for Class 8 vehicles is being called “the start of the upcycle for the market” by ACT Research Co. (ACT) in its latest North American Commercial Vehicle Outlook. The forecast cites several factors for the uptick in business, such as improving freight volume, higher trucker profits and an aging fleet in need of replacement. As a result, the number of units of Class 8 trucks produced will be significantly higher than 2009′s depressing numbers, yet still below what is normal replacement demand. The good news, though, is that the forecast anticipates even stronger Class 8 demand for Continue Reading

Replacing aging trucks in fleets is part of what continued to drive strong Class 8 net orders into December, according to FTR Associates’ preliminary data for the month. Though the total net truck orders for all major North American OEMs was a 3 percent drop-off from November, the 25,247 units ordered were higher than expected and gave analysts hope the trend will continue. Net order activity for the final quarter of 2010 annualized to 280,324 units, which included the United States, Canada, Mexico and exports. As the economy improves, however, FTR Associates cautioned that the Continue Reading

Stronger demand and a shortage of newer late-model units has been driving up Class 8 tractor prices, but according to ACT Research Co., that may be starting to level off. For one, the volume of used Class 8 sales is slowing as the supply of desired models gets snapped up, with sales volume declining 16 percent month-over-month in October. ACT Research says ew truck production slipped from 133,000 units in 2008 to 95,000 units in 2009 and is expected to finish out 2010 with only around 110,000 units – not nearly enough to restock the used truck market significantly. That, along with Continue Reading

Like net trailer orders, Class 8 net orders fell 27 percent from June to July this year, but overall sales are trending upward, according to ACT Research’s State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Vehicles report. Analysts attributed the month-to-month decline in part to seasonality. Medium-duty trucks showed the strongest improvement, up 100 percent from July 2009. As trucking company profitability continues to strengthen, Class 8 sales will Continue Reading