Trailer order backlogs stretch into 2019
According to the preliminary numbers from both ACT Research Co. and FTR, trailer orders were up year-over-year but down month-over-month in April, continuing a strong year for the trailer industry. After several strong months, order backlogs are now stretching into the fourth quarter of this year, and in some cases, into 2019. ACT’s preliminary estimate
Five truck trend takeaways from April
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 April focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.
This year’s first quarter was the second-best ever for truck orders
This year’s first quarter of truck orders was the second-best ever recorded, ACT Research found. Q1 of 2018 came in second only to Q1 of 2006, which featured a frenzied period of ordering ahead of EPA ’07 regulations. Q1 of 2018 averaged 45,400 units sold per month. “Like 2006, 2018 has the same economic/freight component,
Riding on air: The application benefits of air ride suspensions
Suspensions have a job that is both difficult and crucial. Think of them like the spine of the vehicle, supporting both the handling and the ride quality, keeping cargo in good shape while making sure the driver is shielded from the harshest bumps on the road. The importance of this component cannot be overlooked. There
Trailer orders remain strong in March
According to the numbers from both FTR and ACT Research Co., trailer orders in March fell month-over-month but rose year-over-year, continuing a strong series of months for the trailer industry. FTR has preliminary March trailer orders at 27,500, which reflect a typical seasonal decline from February, down 16% m/m. However, orders were historically strong with
Diagnosing tire-related vibration complaints
Given the ongoing driver shortage, it is important to keep your current drivers happy. When drivers complain about vibration issues with their vehicles, it is imperative to troubleshoot and solve the problem quickly. Truck ride complaints can be initiated by many different vehicle conditions. In addition to tire and wheel assembly issues, vehicle components such
Talkin’ tough transmissions: automatic, automated manual transmissions for vocational applications
Crawling through cramped city streets in stop-and-go pick-up and delivery applications. Driving through the dugout tire tracks of a dirt-caked construction site. Rolling through residential refuse duties. Vocational applications tackled by Class 6 through 8 trucks can place unique demands on transmissions compared to their on-highway counterparts. Yet that hasn’t stopped the trend turning toward
Trimble creates two new divisions for transportation
Trimble announced that it has created two new divisions as part of its transportation segment: Trimble Transportation Mobility and Trimble Transportation Enterprise. Trimble Transportation Mobility Brian McLaughlin, president of PeopleNet, will be president of the Trimble Transportation Mobility segment. This division will include Trimble business units including PeopleNet, Innovative Software Engineering (ISE), Trimble Oil &
Gorilla Safety to offer Spanish language on its ELD
Gorilla Safety announced that its fully automated Electronic Logging Device (ELD) is now available in Spanish. According to the company, this will aid bilingual drivers who are more comfortable with Spanish as they seek to comply with the new FMCSA ELD rule. “Gorilla Safety offers many ways for fleets, brokers, vendors and transportation companies to get
Volvo talks new trucks, market strategies
Recently, Volvo Trucks North America held a press conference in Winston-Salem, N.C., to demonstrate its new VNR regional haul tractors and to talk about product advancements—loading efficiencies, passive and active safety systems and integrated connectivity— the market and its strategies. North American launch The VNR regional haul line was initially launched in April at ExpoCam
