FTR reports year-over-year decline in January trailer orders
FTR reports U.S. Trailer net orders for January at 17,900 units, a 30% decline from December and 37% below a year ago. Despite this, orders met FTR expectations for a fall off in activity after four consecutive months of strong trailer orders. Much of the decline was due to a lack of dry van orders, which
FTR says 2016 ‘not looking to be a strong year’ as Class 8 orders fall
FTR has released preliminary data showing that January 2016 North American Class 8 truck net orders slipping back to 18,062 units, down 35% month-over-month and 48% year-over-year. Net Class 8 orders for five of the last eight months were below 20,000 with a monthly average for the period of 21,200 units. Since September order activity has
FTR Shippers Conditions Index remains neutral
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) for November continued in near-neutral territory at -0.6, reflecting mild market conditions. The index will head into a moderately negative range later in 2016 as expectations for a tight capacity environment in 2017 begin to take hold. Shipping costs are currently being positively impacted by lower fuel costs that are
Trailer orders fall in December
FTR reports that U.S. Trailer net orders for December were 25,500, with full year 2015 totaling 313,000 units. December trailer orders, even with -35% month-over-month and -43% year-over-year comparisons, met FTR’s expectations that orders would fall back into a more reasonable range after the robust activity in November 2015. FTR’s numbers also found that dry van orders
FTR Shippers Conditions Index on the decline
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) for October declined from the previous month to a reading of -3.1. According to FTR, the SCI will fall further in 2016 with truck freight forecasted to grow at a robust 3.6%. Shippers will ultimately be negatively affected by tight capacity in the second half of 2016. The Shippers Conditions
FTR’s December numbers show sales rebounding
FTR has released preliminary data showing December 2015 North American Class 8 truck net orders at 27,800 units, a 70% improvement over a disappointing November and considerably above expectations. December 2015 orders were down 36% year-over-year. When combining November and December, Class 8 orders were close to the average for the past ten months and
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index continues to fall in October ahead of expected improvements in 2016
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) measure for October fell more than three points from September to a reading of 5.06. The TCI was projected by FTR to decline through 2015 Q4, so the October reading was not unexpected by FTR. Conditions are expected to improve for truckers in 2016 as shippers become concerned with the
FTR shows Class 8 orders at the lowest since September 2012
FTR has released preliminary data showing November 2015 North American Class 8 truck net orders at 16,475, 59% below a year ago and the lowest level since September 2012. This was the weakest November order activity since 2009 and came significantly below expectations. All of the OEMs but one experienced unusually low orders for the month. FTR
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index reflects benign conditions for shippers
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) for September, at a near neutral reading of -0.5, reflects benign conditions for shippers. The index will start a steady downward trajectory during 2015 Q4 through 2016, reflecting the current expectations for freight haulers to institute increased pricing toward the end of next year. A portion of the index is
Trailer orders exceed expectations again in October
FTR reports that October 2015 U.S. Trailer net orders came in at 32,200 units. The order total for the month was down 7% month-over-month, and 30% below a year ago, but still beat expectations. Trailer orders have now totaled 324,000 for the past 12 months. According to FTR’s report, refrigerated van orders were spectacular in October,
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index falls in September, improvement expected in 2016
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) measure for September declined from the previous month to a reading of 8.46 (as seen in the graph above). The Trucking Conditions Index has been uneven through 2015 and is expected to decline further by the end of the year. The trucking environment remains in a fragile equilibrium between decent
FTR reports that preliminary Class 8 orders for October are below expectations
FTR has released preliminary data showing October 2015 North American Class 8 truck net orders at 25,000, 30% above September. While the October orders came in significantly higher than the previous month, they were below expectations. As fleets finalize their equipment budgets for the coming year, October orders typically rise considerably; and although orders were
