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.
ACT Research: With demand high, truck market awaits opening of OEMs’ 2022 order books
According to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: N.A. Classes 5-8 Report, with demand for commercial vehicles surging, much depends on the opening of the OEMs’ 2022 order books. “There are times in the cycle where other variables supplant orders as the most critical in terms of industry understanding,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT Research’s president and
‘Prices are through the roof’ as used truck sales drop in June
According to the latest numbers from ACT Research, preliminary used Class 8 sales dropped 6% month-over-month and 12% year-over-year in June. Other data released in ACT’s preliminary report included month-over-month comparisons for June 2021, which showed that average prices increased 5%, as average miles fell 1% and average age was unchanged compared to May. Compared
Preliminary Class 5-8 vehicle orders moderated again
Complete industry data for May, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-June.