Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue Live Blog (UPDATED!)
We’re back at the Gaylord Texan for Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue (HDAD) presented by HDMA and MacKay and Co. The last time we were together in person it was in 2020 just before the pandemic hit. Then, the big talking points were independent service aims to keep up with truck technology, training and finding technicians,
Three easy steps fleet operators can take to be more sustainable
Many fleet operators want to be more sustainable, but balancing their environmental impact and bottom line can be tricky. High fleet demand paired with COVID-19 restrictions, as well as historic driver and supply shortages may stretch your business to its limits, but there are simple methods to help your businesses go green without spending a
The continued impact of supply-chain constrained production
Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in December were 22,800 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders dropped to 18,100 units, a significant sequential uptick for Class 8 but lower m/m and y/y readings for the medium-duty market. Complete industry data for December, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-January. “For Class 8,
What the Infrastructure Bill means for motor carriers, capacity constraints
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or, more commonly referred to as the infrastructure bill, has many layers to it, but what lies at its core is the future of transportation and logistics funding. Investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and how EVs are transported are major areas of focus, along with critical funding for
Pressure continues for new commercial vehicle order activity
Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in November were 9,800 units, while NA Classes 5-7 net orders dropped to 21,500 units, both representing lower sequential and year-over-year readings. Complete industry data for November, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-December. “Long backlog lead times resulting from ongoing supply-side constraints continue
No doubt about it: Decarbonization is FE’s 2021 Truck Equipment Trend of the Year
The most wonderful time of the year is finally here, because it’s that time again to announce Fleet Equipment’s Trend of the Year. Typically, when this annual story rolls around the editorial staff takes a week or so to pore over our content from our most recent cycle around the sun, articulating in detail our
Getting a sense of trailer location, cargo status solutions
There’s a cautionary tale told in whispers at fleet industry events of a fleet manager who was plagued by the problem of lost trailers. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to keep track of his cargo carriers. Where were they? Were they loaded? Unloaded? Maintained? These are the questions he mumbled to
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index in double digits as freight rates strengthen
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) reading for September increased marginally to 11.79 from 11.63 in August. Freight rates continued to strengthen in September, but freight volume and capacity utilization were not as beneficial to carriers as they were in July and August. FTR’s forecast remains for strong positive TCI readings well into 2022. “The market
Five truck trend takeaways from October
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 October focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place. 5. Electric trucks could change service shop operations Electric trucks are coming and reduced maintenance is potentially coming along with
Truck market was strong in September
The latest data from ACT Research shows a stronger trucking market in September. The release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed an increase in volumes, pricing, and capacity, with a lower but still-strong supply-demand balance. The ACT For-Hire Trucking Index is a monthly survey of for-hire trucking service providers. “Although it increased in September, the Volume Index is
