Though the recession was technically declared over in June 2009, most companies or fleets wouldn’t know it. While recovery hasn’t been as brisk, economic analysts are predicting stronger, steady growth in 2011, but it will bring with it a new set of challenges. Those challenges, like the effects of CSA 2010, a potential driver shortage, continued excess capacity and proposed changes to hours-of-service rules, will take tolls on the industry. The FMCSA’s crackdown on unsafe drivers using the CSA 2010 measurement tool could take some off the roads, meaning more equipment left 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

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

For the first time since August 2009, the price of a used Class 8 vehicle eclipsed $40,000, according to ACT Research Co.’s State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks report. That’s because reported sales were up 55 percent in August as compared to the prior year. And coupled with short supply and greater demand, a used truck can fetch an increasingly higher price. Dealers said customers are looking for late-model used vehicles particularly. The news sounds promising, but the numbers may only be telling a small part of the story. According to ACT, only an estimated 10 percent of Continue Reading

Trailer orders continued their healthy rebound, according to the latest report from ACT Research Co. In August, commercial net trailer orders rose 55 percent from the same month last year, “one of the worst years in the commercial trailer industry,” the research firm said. Orders improved across the board in eight of nine categories ACT tracks, with the only drop being in dump trailers. August’s net orders of 10,946 were 2% over July’s level and trailer makers boosted 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

Though new trailer orders took a dip from June to July this year, industry analysts remain positive about the overall direction of the market. According to data from ACT Research, Co., last month’s numbers showed a 74 percent improvement over the same time last year. And the largest segment of commercial trailers, dry vans, saw something of a comeback with a 134 percent jump from July 2009. As far as the 9 percent decline in new orders from June to July, researchers say bear in mind the continued effects of a very weak 2009. Despite these tentative numbers, ACT Research showed the demand Continue Reading

Improving truck trailer orders mean increased production, but according to ACT Research Co. (ACT) backlogs are rising, as well. ACT’s latest State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers noted that backlogs jumped 10 percent in May. The good news for the industry and for the economy is that May’s trailer orders are up 59 percent from the same month last year. Even better, there are few order cancellations, according to ACT, because Continue Reading

Recent spikes in new truck sales may not be a sign of prosperity to come any time soon, according to various research firms, like Standard and Poor’s and FTR Associates and industry analysts. Now, FTR Associates is saying, that the jump may be the optimistic part of the rebound-then-fizzle-out sales cycle experienced in the 1982 recession. If that’s the case, truck sales have a hard road ahead to approach recent peak levels in the U.S. in Continue Reading

The latest North American Commercial Vehicle Outlook from ACT Research suggests increased Class 8 production in 2010 and 2011. Buoyed by a stronger economy and tightening capacity, Class 8 truck production is predicted to show a 19 percent year-over-year increase this year, followed by an anticipated 67 percent Continue Reading