ACT Research: Spending on goods driving freight demand
ACT Research concluded that spending on goods is driving recovery in freight demand in its latest installment of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume Outlook report. “The substitution of spending to goods and away from services is driving a recovery in freight demand and, coupled with slow capacity re-engagement, has led to unprecedented
Trailer orders continue to improve in October
According to the latest numbers from both FTR and ACT Research Co., trailer orders continued to improve in October. According to ACT Research, after sinking to the lowest point in history in April, net trailer orders have continued to improve throughout the summer and into fall. “Recent trailer order patterns have continued to favor both
Preliminary N.A. Class 8 net orders swell to about 40k units in October
FTR reports preliminary North American Class 8 net orders soared in October to 40,100 units. ACT Research reported October orders at 38,900 units. According to FTR’s estimate, this is the first over-40,000 unit month for Class 8 orders since October of 2018, FTR says. Orders were up 26% m/m and up 83% y/y. Class 8
Teletrac Navman introduces Electric Vehicle Readiness Tool
Teletrac Navman has introduced the Electric Vehicle Readiness Tool, aimed at supporting fleet operators with the move over to electric vehicles. The company says the web-based, automated A.I. tool integrates with the Teletrac Navman advanced suite of fleet management and tracking platforms and analyzes all telematics data to provide operators with detailed recommendations of where
ACT Research: September used truck metrics show volumes up YTD
According to the numbers from ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes were up 24% year-to-date against the first nine months of 2019, with average price, miles and age all below September 2019 year-to-date rates, down 14%, 2%, and 9%, respectively. Near term, the report also indicated that used Class 8 sales volumes
Why more collaboration means moving to the cloud
If we’re being honest, the most difficult thing about truck technology isn’t spec’ing it—it’s actually using it. You’ve got data in spreadsheets, repair orders, emails—heck, even faxes in some cases. It’s hard to see how your engine repair costs,—say, replacing alternators—impact your engine’s operational efficiency and total cost of ownership. On top of that, if
ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index highlights tight supply-demand balance
The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with September data, showed a continuing tight trucking market, with volume and rate surges ongoing and driver availability deteriorating, ACT says. September’s Volume Index rose to 70.7 (SA), while Pricing hit 71.3, a two-year high. With capacity and driver availability in contraction territory, at 46.6 and 30.6,
Shipping Conditions in August were weakest in two years, FTR says
The FTR Shippers Conditions Index for August fell further into negative territory, to a reading of -1.79. Just four months after the strongest market conditions on record, shipping conditions in August were the weakest in two years, FTR says. While most factors affecting the Shipping Conditions Index in August were equal to or more favorable
Pitstop announces Series A round of funding
Pitstop, an automotive predictive maintenance platform, recently announced a Series A round of funding led by Sensata Technologies, with participation from existing investors Ripple Ventures and Hike Ventures. The company says Pitstop will use the funds to expand market reach, enhance product features and build additional prediction algorithms for the automotive industry. The amount of
The secrets to spec’ing your next vocational truck chassis
If you have ever found yourself with your hands on your knees, nose three inches from a model ship in a glass bottle, you have no doubt silently contemplated the same question everyone else has in this position – how did they possibly build that? It begins with preparation. As each combination of ship, bottle
