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

A healthy rebound in truck orders has pushed production capacity of Class 8 vehicles to its limits. And those limitations are further exacerbated by the shortage of tires, axles and other second- and third-tier components. As a result, manufacturers are approaching their production capacities with a tempered conservativism due to these potential shortages. When production of Class 8 trucks begins to level off, it will be 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

Wilson Trucking, a family-owned and operated business based in Virginia, had the rare distinction of buying both Volvo Trucks North American’s first and 500,000th U.S.-built truck from the OEM’s New River Valley production line in Dublin, Va. That first truck, an F7 tractor purchased in 1982, was only recently retired from service. The vehicled that pushed Volvo’s Virginia production to the half-million mark was a new VNL 300 daycab tractor. Brothers Chuck and T. Guy Wilson attribute the long life of their vehicles to their dad, a bomber pilot in World War II, who was ever mindful that 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

Great Dane Trailers will reopen its Jonesboro, Ark., plant due to a boost in dry freight van demand. About 70 recalled employees began work in late September, and the first trailers, SSL dry freight vans featuring Great Dane’s distinct single sided laminate interior lining, started rolling off the line last week.

Opened by Great Dane in September 2002, the Jonesboro facility has a history of reaching production goals and achieving high levels of safety performance. Production is Continue Reading

An oversupply of trailers will continue to weaken demand for new trailers, creating sluggish 2009 production numbers that will only modestly improve into 2010, according to the president of FTR Associates research firm. Speaking at the recent TTMA meeting, he painted a bleak economic Continue Reading