July trailer orders come in below expectations
FTR reports that final July trailer orders were below expectations at 9,500 units, which is 20% below June and -55% year-over-year. Dry van orders were particularly weak, with other trailer segments experiencing noticeable order declines as well. Orders have totaled 260,000 units over the past twelve months. Backlogs fell another 9% and are now 21%
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index remains at low level in June
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) for June, at a reading of 2.92, continues from the previous month in a low trough due to slow freight and a lull in new regulations. Even with negatives affecting the trucking sector, the reading remains above zero which is the break point between good and bad conditions. The TCI
July was the weakest truck order month in six years
According to the latest preliminary numbers from FTR, July truck orders came in at 10,400 units, 56% below a year ago and the weakest month since February 2010. Several significant order cancellations resulted in net orders falling 19% below June and being below expectations. Individual OEM performance was mixed, depending on the number of cancelled
FTR Shippers Conditions Index for May falls
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) fell back into negative territory in May to a reading of -2.8, following five months of positive (favorable to shippers) readings. Market signals remain very mixed with some seasonal increase in spot freight rates negatively affecting the SCI. Overall, the index should remain close to neutral until Congress decides if
Fleet Advantage releases second quarter Truck Lifecycle Data Index
Fleet Advantage has released its second quarter, 2016 Truck Lifecycle Data Index (TLDI) comparing all-in operating costs of early model Class 8 trucks to all-in operating costs of current model year replacements. The TLDI shows that fleets realize higher cost savings by replacing older-model units with 2017 models, and reflects a 9% increase in operating cost savings
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index hits lowest level since 2011
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) for May fell to its lowest level since 2011 at a reading of 1.69, nearly five points lower than the previous month. Negatively affecting truckers are lower freight rates and capacity utilization that has dropped below 95%. The TCI is currently forecasted by FTR to rise into the mid-single digits
Engine market data will now be more readily accessible thanks to a new report
A joint venture between ACT Research Co. and Rhein Associates has yielded a new study, the N.A. On-Highway Commercial Vehicle Engine Outlook report. ACT’s foray into engine data analysis fills a void, but may leave readers of the report with questions about the type of data analyzed, what prompted ACT to start producing the report, and who
June truck demand slows to lowest total in four years
For the month of June, 28,300 new Classes 5-8 vehicle orders were booked, the lowest total in four years. Of those, Class 8 garnered 13,100 orders and for Classes 5-7, 15,200 orders were placed, according to preliminary numbers from ACT Research Co. (Final June numbers will be published in mid-July). “The pace of commercial vehicle
Class 8 orders fall in June, according to preliminary numbers
FTR’s preliminary data for June 2016 has been released, placing Class 8 net orders for June at 13,000 units, 8% below May and -34% year-over-year. June 2016 order activity was the lowest monthly total since July 2012 and the worst June since 2009. All OEMs were equally impacted by slow order intake. The annualized rate
FTR Shippers Conditions Index improves in April
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) for April rose marginally to a reading of 1.5, up from 0.4 in March. The new reading reflects improved market conditions for shippers as freight demand remains sluggish. The SCI is at its highest sustained level since 2011; however, conditions for shippers should reverse in 2017 as fuel prices rise
Trailer orders down in May
Trailer net orders fell nearly 14% month-over-month, and contracted 10% year-over-year, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. “New orders continued to ease in May, following seasonally projected patterns, but fleets continue to bias their investments to trailers,” said Frank Maly, director of commercial vehicle transportation analysis and
Used truck sales fall in May
Used Class 8 truck same dealer sales volumes took a steep downward turn in May, falling by double-digit percentages month-over-month (m/m) and year-over-year (y/y), but year-to-date volumes declined by a smaller percentage, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research. “May Class 8 used truck
