Five truck trend takeaways from January
Embrace the month and catch up on January’s popular stories and a bonus one too.
Trucking market 2023 prediction: Plan for uncertainty
The latest from FTR’s State of Freight online press conference.
Preliminary North American Class 8 net orders fell in November to 34,300 units
FTR reports preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for November fell to 34,300, well off September’s 56,000-unit record. Orders may have declined over the last two months, but compared to last year’s weak results, they are showing tremendous gains. November order activity was down 20% m/m but up 254% y/y. Class 8 orders now
Net trailer orders surged in October to 44,000 units
FTR reports that U.S. trailer net orders surged in October to 44,000, rising 91% from the previous month. Orders were 161% higher than in October 2021. Backlog levels jumped 13% on the increased orders after a downward trend for most of the year. October build rates were down 9% from September but were up 3%
FTR reports preliminary North American Class 8 net orders remain elevated
FTR reports preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for October remained elevated for the second consecutive month, coming in at 43,200 units. October order activity was -23% m/m and +77% y/y, with Class 8 orders now totaling 271,000 units for the last 12 months. Net orders in October continue to solidify the notion that
FTR reports preliminary trailer orders dropped considerably
FTR reports preliminary trailer orders dropped in September, falling 25% m/m to 12,500 units. September trailer orders were -56% y/y and now total 271,000 units for the past 12 months. Overall, most trailer manufacturers, especially those in the van segments, still must manage production weekly as component shortages continue to hinder production. Even amidst the downward trend
FTR reports preliminary Class 8 truck net orders soared to a record
FTR reports preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for September soared to 56,500 units, the most ever for a single month. September order activity was +169% m/m and +102% y/y, with Class 8 orders now totaling 254,000 units for the last 12 months. “With order boards officially open for 2023 build spots, Q4 monthly
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index remained in negative territory for third consecutive month
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) improved in July to a reading of -0.7 from the previous -3.36 principally because of falling diesel prices. Although the index was just below the index’s base of zero, it was the third consecutive month of negative readings–a situation that had not occurred since March-May 2020. FTR expects that trucking market
FTR reports preliminary trailer orders fell in August
FTR reports preliminary trailer orders fell 3% m/m in August to a total of 16,400 units. August 2022 trailer order activity was +21% y/y with orders now totaling 286,000 units for the past twelve months. Factors such as labor conditions, component supply chains, and volatile raw material prices remain the primary factors preventing OEMs from
Don Ake to retire from FTR
Don Ake retired from FTR at the end of September. Ake has been the vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR since 2013. His responsibilities included forecasting and analysis of the Class 8, commercial trailers, and medium duty truck markets. Ake began his career in the industry with equipment supplier Hendrickson in 1993 and has
North American Class 8 net orders nearly double in August
FTR reports preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for August jumped 98% m/m to 21,400 units. Most OEMs began placing a limited number of orders for the first quarter of 2023. It appears OEMs have returned to the pattern of the first quarter of this year when orders averaged 21,100 units. It is expected
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index improved but remains in negative territory
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) improved somewhat in June to a less negative reading of -4.0 from the previous -6.2 in May. A slowing of diesel price gains in June was the largest factor. Freight market dynamics netted out little change. Aside from April, the June SCI reading was the strongest since September 2020. The outlook is improving
