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

Carriers who’ve weathered the downturn are becoming readjusted to the “new” economy, taking advantage of a greater volume of freight distributed among fewer companies. Many businesses were forced to close during the recession. But despite that silver lining, other aspects of the economy that could impact trucking are slow to catch up. Housing sales and starts continue to remain low, though consumer spending is gaining slightly and showing moderate growth that’s expected to hold steady. No doubt boosted by the holidays, retail sales rose 5.5 percent, mostly on lower-ticket items such as Continue Reading

The slow-to-recover economy can be explained as the tale of two phases, GDP growth and truck freight growth, according to analysts with FTR Associates. The GDP rose rapidly, then has slowed because there is less consumer consumption compared to earlier recessions. Senior analyst Neil Perry said tight credit, a slow-to-recover housing market (which accounts for 15 percent of the economy) and unemployment are hampering economic recovery. Growth is still occurring, particularly in the rise of durable goods spending and thanks to global economies like China and Continue Reading

The Canadian trucking industry is regaining its strength, according to the latest TransCore’s Canadian Freight Index. With a 26 percent increase over October 2009, the market is off to its strongest fourth quarter start since 2007. What’s more is that freight movement is holding strong. In October, it reached the second highest level for the same month over the last five years. While the month-over-month comparison saw a decline of 23 index points, freight availability continues to hover above the 200 index point marker, surpassed in March and maintained for eight of the last Continue Reading

An aging dry van fleet and improving market conditions helped push trailer orders for these models up 79 percent over 2009 levels, according to the latest numbers from ACT Research. But it’s not just dry vans that are making improvements. Eight of the nine trailer categories tracked by the research firm posted year-over-year growth. Analysts are calling the improvements overall something of a perfect storm. For example, while the average age of Class 8 trucks in U.S. fleets is now 6.5 years – the highest in 30 years – U.S. fleet dry van trailers now average 8.5 years. In addition, the supply/demand Continue Reading

After an extended period of weak demand, commercial trailer orders are bouncing back in a big way, according to the latest numbers from ACT Research. Dry van orders continue to gain strength with a nearly 20 percent increase from August activity to September. Even more encouraging about the news is the the trend upward was not derailed even in what is traditionally the year’s weakest month. Analysts also said the improvements were not just a Continue Reading

Manufacturing continues to get stronger, according to the latest numbers from the Institute for Supply Management. The rate of activity for October marked the 15th consecutive month of growth, according to the index’s PMI. What was particularly good news is the index of new orders, which is also an indicator of near-term shipment volumes, came in at 58.9 percent, up almost eight percentage points from September. Production was also up from September, a little more than six points for a final reading of 62.7 percent. What it means is that the economy is poised to make 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

Consumer confidence took a slight tumble from August to September, but it didn’t fall as far as some economists expected. The latest Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index showed a decline to a 68.2 reading in September from August’s 68.9 mark. After a preliminary reading for September of 66.6 was released, economist predicted the index would fall to 67. Viewed as a gauge of Continue Reading

According to the latest numbers from the American Trucking Associations’ seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, the economy is slowing and is expected to remain sluggish through the end of the year. But the ATA’s chief economist, Bob Costello, says that the trucking industry has changed “dramatically for the better,” even despite the largest month-to-month drop–2.7 percent–since March 2009. Costello says that carriers can now do better with small increases in demand, particularly since equipment supply was thinned during the recession. The base year for ATA’s index is Continue Reading