Final July net trailer orders climb to highest level in 2020
FTR reports final net trailer orders continued to climb in July, reaching 19,300 units, the highest level for the year. ACT Research reports July net U.S. trailer orders of 18,851 units. July order activity was up 33% from June and +84% y/y, FTR says. Trailer orders now total 173,000 for the past twelve months. Dry
Service tips for first responder fleets
With the end of the current pandemic nowhere in sight and its impact on the availability of repair service providers, now more than ever it is of the utmost importance to keep the fleets of first responder vehicles serviced and on the road at all times. As light-duty diesels are the choice vehicles for first
ACT: Used truck sales up in July
Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) grew 16% month-over-month in July, according to the latest numbers from ACT Research. Longer-term, volumes rose 48% compared to July 2019, and were up 7% when measured against the first seven months of last year. Other data released in ACT’s preliminary report included month-over-month comparisons for July
FTR June Trucking Conditions Index reflects freight rebound
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index reading of 11.35 for June is the highest in a decade and comes just two months after a record-low April reading of -28.66. However, FTR says it is unclear how long the positive factors affecting the June reading—a combination of higher utilization and strong growth in freight demand and rates—will remain
National Trailer Dealers Association convention going virtual in 2020
The 30th annual National Trailer Dealers Association (NTDA) convention, planned for Nov. 4–6, has been canceled due to COVID-19, but the NTDA is offering members a virtual convention instead. There will be no cost for 2020 NTDA convention sponsors, exhibitors or members to log onto the 2020 NTDA virtual convention. The online format will go
How electric truck development has been impacted by the pandemic
Before the pandemic, electric trucks stood in the industry limelight as OEMs rolled demo fleets out across the country, started to collect and analyze application data and work with partners both in infrastructure deployment and fleet utilization to understand the ability of electric powertrain to do the job. Then the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world.
July truck orders strongest in 2020
According to the latest numbers from both ACT Research and FTR, truck orders in July hit their highest point of 2020. FTR reports that preliminary North American Class 8 net orders rebounded in July to 20,000 units, up 28% from June, and double the orders that we had in July of 2019. Class 8 net
FTR’s May Shippers Conditions Index falls sharply in May but remains high
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) for May fell sharply to 24.8 from the extraordinarily high pandemic-impacted 41.3 April reading. While not nearly as positive as April, FTR says, May’s SCI was still the second-highest on record. All inputs to the measure were weaker in May than in April, but all remained positive, especially capacity utilization
Heartland Express Inc. receives awards from FedEx Express
Heartland Express, Inc. has received two service awards from FedEx Express for fiscal year 2020 (June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020). Heartland Express has been awarded both the FedEx Express “Platinum Award for 99.96% On-Time Service” and “Core Carrier of the Year” award. Heartland Express says it has received the “Carrier of the Year”
New COVID cases threaten commercial vehicle recovery, ACT Research says
According to ACT Research’s recently-released Transportation Digest, the tug of war between positive and negative influences on the business environment and trucking reached a pivotal juncture at the end of June, but an escalation in new COVID-19 cases since mid-June threatens to abort this nascent recovery. “The sudden shock of the COVID-19 recession pushed the
AM Equipment finds new uses for wiper motors
Wiper reliability is no accident, says AM Equipment. They’ve been around as long as the automobile industry first started installing windshields more than a hundred years ago. There have been many refinements since to make them more efficient: better blade material, larger coverage, even automatic sensing to engage automatically and adjust speed to rain/spray volume.
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) Calls for FET Suspension
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) sent a letter to the Democratic leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives July 21 calling for suspension of the 12% federal excise tax (FET) on heavy-duty trucks and trailers until the end of 2021 in the next Coronavirus stimulus bill. American Truck Dealers (ATD) leads the Modernize the Truck Fleet
