Though the year-over-year freight index is down, the Freight Transportation Services Index increased 2.9 percent since June 2009. Those gains have come since the Freight TSI’s lowest level since June 1997, which was May 2009. The index hit its peak in May 2006 with a Freight TSI of 112.9. 2009 ended with a December Freight TSI of Continue Reading

Industry analysts continue to point to mid-2010 as the point at which dramatic improvements needed to boost truck sales will take place. According to ACT Research Co. (ACT), the trucking industry will strengthen in the second half of the year, in turn boosting demand for commercial vehicles later in 2010 and into 2011. With used truck values increasing and finance firms less likely to extend credit to keep struggling carriers Continue Reading

The outlook for growth in truck tonnage for 2010 is modest at best, according to trucking groups and research analysts, affected mostly by continued sluggish consumer spending and business investment. Still, they say, the trucking industry is headed in the right direction, albeit slowly. Anticipated modest increases will help move the Continue Reading

The boost in Class 8 truck orders to close out 2009 is being attributed to pre-buys before 2010 federal emissions standards take effect, as well as higher volumes from Mexico and other export markets. Net orders for December posted a 37 percent year-over-year increase, though numbers for the year were 33 percent Continue Reading

Four of the Federal Reserve’s 12 districts, including Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas an Richmond, reported improved transportation activity for the period between mid-November and early January. Though its latest “beige book” reports that though the transportation sector is improving, economic activity remained low. Compiled eight times a year, beige book reports are based Continue Reading

With fuel economy, weight and cost being ever-important concerns, truck OEMs stay hard at work in developing fuel-efficient solutions while complying with the latest regulations. The new SCR, or selective catalytic reduction, technology to meet 2010 federal emissions standards will do just that. And, though it carries Continue Reading

The economy will pick up in 2010, but not until late next year, according to the top leaders at a national truck dealership chain. Even then, Rush Enterprises executives say the recovery will be slow but steady. A number of things are preventing the economy to improve, including restricted access to credit, over-capacity Continue Reading

Though the U.S. economy is beginning to work its way up, recovery is projected to be a long and its stability fragile through most of 2010. According to economists with The Conference Board, capital investments for some will be cancelled out by flat activity in others. Of concern for the trucking industry is continued Continue Reading

Cost-conscious fleets may soon help boost the truck leasing industry. With new emission regulations driving up truck prices, fleets may give more thought to leasing equipment. With many still hampered from buying new equipment outright because of tighter access to credit, leasing offers an attractive option to stay on the Continue Reading

Despite the encouraging looks of trailer order increases, analysts say overall production is still down. October indicated an 80 percent jump in commercial trailer orders from September and a 124 percent increase from October last year. According to ATR Research Co., 70,000 semi trailers are expected to be built in 2009, increasing only to Continue Reading