ACT Research’s Class 8 Tractor Dashboard unchanged still a downbeat
According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, the top line on the Class 8 Tractor Dashboard was unchanged in May, the third month of moderately downbeat readings. “Our interpretation of the recent Tractor Dashboard reading is a gradual erosion of Class 8 market demand into the second half of 2022, but no ‘spiral down’ and
Used Class 8 truck sales volumes, prices, miles, age increase
According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) were 1% higher month-over-month. Longer term, volumes dropped 44% y/y and were 34% lower ytd. Average price and miles were down 6% and 1%, respectively, compared to
ACT Research For-Hire Trucking Index: More capacity and less volume 
The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index, showed volume and pricing down, with capacity still on the high side, resulting in a lower Supply-Demand Balance in June. “The reading shows volumes continuing to contract, as sustained inflation and high fuel prices erode consumer confidence,” said Carter Vieth, research associate, ACT Research. “Substitution effects are
Supply chain challenged but improving, negotiations for 2023 underway
The U.S. trailer OEMs are rapidly filling available 2022 production slots, with both dry van and reefer build-to-backlog stretching deep into December, according to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components Report. “Overall, we expect orders and production to travel in lockstep until 2023 order boards officially open,” said Frank Maly, director–commercial vehicle transportation analysis
Trucking starts 2022 with unfinished 2021 units, faces omicron variant
According to ACT’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, in the short term, COVID risks have increased materially, as the highly contagious Omicron variant continues its global sweep, and reports indicate growing strains on staffing across the US and global economies, thereby threatening manufacturing activity in Q1, inclusive of NA commercial vehicles.
Demand remains solid but supply chain issues plague trucking industry, ACT Research reports
In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that the setup for the entire commercial vehicle industry remains unchanged. Despite rock-solid demand metrics across the spectrum of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle types, industry capacity remains range-bound across a broad front of supply-chain constraints. “Demand-side activities remain at as-good-as-it-gets levels. Front-side industry metrics remain
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
ACT Research lowers truck production forecasts
ACT Research has trimmed its near-term commercial vehicle production forecasts amid continued supply-side constraints. “The setup for the entire industry remains unchanged: Despite rock-solid demand metrics across the spectrum of medium and heavy duty vehicle types, industry capacity remains range-bound across a broad front of supply-chain constraints,” said Steve Tam, ACT’s vice president. “Just like
Freight and heavy vehicle demand strong, ACT reports
New numbers from ACT Research show strength of both freight demand and heavy vehicle demand, the company shared. According to Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst, two charts seen above from ACT’s North American Commercial Vehicle Outlook show promising numbers. “The Total Business Inventory-to-Sales ratio bounced off the bottom in May, but remained well
Commercial vehicle market drives toward stability at high levels
According to ACT Research’s recently released Transportation Digest, forecast stability this year has been driven by three factors: 1. Major positive momentum carried over from 2020;2. The struggle of manufacturers to push production even higher in the face of record heavy organic truck demand; and 3. The benefit of vaccinations somewhat reversing the daunting upward
ACT Research For-Hire Trucking Index: Metrics moderating, but still healthy
The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with June data, showed a slowing in volumes, pricing moderating at a high level, and a still-strong supply-demand balance. “June’s Volume Index reading declined, but continues to represent a still-healthy level, following an upwardly revised May. The fundamentals of the freight cycle remain clearly positive,” said
Trailer orders up in June, but down year-over-year
June net U.S. trailer orders of 10,952 units grew nearly 18% from the previous month, but were almost 20% lower than June of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 13,100 units were up more than 7% versus May, but down 19% from the previous June, according to the latest numbers from ACT Research.
