Five truck trend takeaways from March

Five truck trend takeaways from March

We know it’s not easy to keep up with everything that happens in the world of trucking. So here are the biggest stories from March focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.

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We know it’s not easy to keep up with everything that happens in the world of trucking. So here are the biggest stories from March focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.

5. New truck launches abound

What bigger news could there be in the trucking industry than the launch of a new truck? March being the center of the trucking industry’s trade show season means there was no shortage of new trucks being announced and released. There was the International MV series; the Fuso gas-powered FE series; Chevrolet’s 2019 Silverado Class 4, 5, and 6 models; and Hino’s first foray into the North American Class 8 market. Additionally, the Volvo VNX was announced, and you can watch the first video look at these new trucks here.

4. It’s tax season: find out what the new tax laws mean for your fleet

Passed on Dec. 12, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits and deductions for many individuals and businesses. Editor At Large Carol Birkland reached out to several fleet financial experts to find out how it may impact your business.

3. The newest cabs are being designed with driver comfort and retention in mind

If the latest Class 8 on-highway models from truck manufacturers have one thing in common, it’s that the driver’s point of view was central to their design. Read Seth Skydel’s rundown of the newest Class 8 cabs and their driver amenities here.

2. Air disc brakes continue to increase in popularity

“The brake manufacturers polled for this story pegged the take rate of air disc brakes at around 18% to 25% for heavy-duty tractors. For context, FE asked the same question for a 2015 story and the range at the time was 12% to 15%. That’s solid growth for what’s still a relatively new option, but many of the brake makers see ADBs carving out an even larger slice of the pie in the near future, spurred by the OEMs offering disc brakes as standard.”

The popularity if air disc brakes has been increasing for years; clearly, these brakes aren’t going anywhere. Senior Editor Alex Crissey goes through what you need to know about this emerging category of brakes.

1. The ELD enforcement deadline looms; it’s time to get prepared

“The Dec. 18, 2017, effective date for the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate has come and gone, but fleets are beginning to realize that it didn’t mark the end of the ELD saga—it was the beginning of a new ELD era. The next mile marker on the road toward the mandatory use deadline is April 1—the date when enforcement officials can start putting trucks that aren’t ELD compliant out of service.”

If you don’t have an ELD solution, or maybe you have a solution in place but are having problems getting it off the ground, Editor Jason Morgan is here to help with these three steps to compliance.

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Class 8 orders strong in February

Even when seasonally adjusted, ACT says preliminary order numbers for February are up 5% over January.

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According to the latest numbers from ACT Research, preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 27,700 units, up 600 units from January and 16% from a year ago. With the fourth-largest seasonal factor of the year at 8%, seasonal adjustment reduces February’s Class 8 intake to 25,600 units, up 5% from January.

“Weak freight and carrier profitability fundamentals, and large carriers guiding to lower capex in 2024, would imply pressure in U.S. tractor, the North American Class 8 market’s largest segment,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “While we do not yet have the underlying detail for February order volumes, Class 8 demand continuing at high levels again this month suggests that U.S. buyers continue as strong market participants.”

Freightliner M2, SD Plus Series launch updates its medium-duty truck offering

Freightliner introduced the new Plus Series–enhanced versions of its M2 and SD models, including the M2 106 Plus, M2 112 Plus, 108SD Plus, and 114SD Plus. The enhanced models provide a major update to the interior and electrical systems of the M2 and SD models. The OEM noted that the Plus Series is designed to

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Kenworth delivers 15-liter natural gas-powered truck to UPS

The truck is equipped with the Cummins X15N, which Kenworth says will meet CARB and EPA Requirements for both 2024 and 2027.

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ACT Research: 2024 could see trucking recovery

Despite trucking demand remaining weak, ACT Research says imports and international data indicate positive trends in 2024.

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Navistar progressing toward autonomous hub-to-hub transport

Autonomous truck testing is underway, and the company expects customer pilots to be delivered later this year.

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FTR Trucking Conditions Index falls in December

FTR says the drop was mostly due to higher capital cost and a deterioration in freight rates, a trend that could stretch into 2024.

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