FTR Associates on Thursday, Jan. 5, released preliminary data showing December Class 8 truck total net orders for all major North American OEMs reaching the second-highest level in three years at 29,777 units. December orders were up 46 percent month over month, with a year-over-year increase from December 2011 of 11 percent, reversing the decline of disappointing November order activity. Class 8 orders for the final three months of 2011 annualize to 312,000 units. Continue Reading

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report published by ACT Research Co. (ACT), new and net trailer orders in October reached their highest levels since April and May, checking in at 19,408 units and 17,384 units, respectively. ACT noted that, taking seasonality into account, October’s backlog rose a modest 1.5% month over month. Continue Reading

Trailer orders are continuing their slide, according to the latest numbers from ACT Research Co., but such a pattern is to be expected this time of year. The 2 percent fall in commercial trailer net orders from June to July is the fourth consecutive month of declines, but the research firm is projecting order volumes to strengthen through the fall and winter. With a strong backlog and few cancellations, the seasonal Continue Reading

U.S. trailer orders dropped again in June, but it’s too soon to tell, according to analysts, whether this should be an industry-wide cause for concern. Despite a 26 percent decline from May and a 5 percent drop from June 2010, ACT Research Co. noted in its report that orders are still double what they were a year ago. Also, the research firm said, the lower order numbers were not a result of cancellations, but rather Continue Reading

According to the latest numbers, trailer orders are down, but some analysts say it was to be expected. A researcher with ACT Research Co., says the decline is in line with normal industry patterns and that, despite the slip, the backlog continues to grow, and is up 1 percent from April. The result is a full production slate for OEMs. Even better is that the number of cancellations is low. After several consecutive spikes in trailer Continue Reading

The good news is that truck and trailer orders are on the rise. The better news, perhaps, is that they are growing at such a pace, many OEMs and industry analysts are adjusting their sales forecast numbers as a result. Most major truck manufacturers told Fleet Owner they had upped their anticipated production numbers, while some even wondered if they might reach their peak of what they could physically produce in a year. For trailers, the order backlog continues to grow, even despite a 30 percent decline in net orders from March to April. ACT Research Co. analysts aren’t too concerned Continue Reading

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

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