Economic trends

Trailer orders plunge 50% in April

Trailer orders fell off a cliff in April, FTR reported Monday, citing volatility stemming from economic policy and uncertainty over the truck freight market as significant headwinds.

May 19, 2025

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ACT confirms used market expansion

The used truck market turnaround appears to be officially underway, as retail volumes and price both rose in April.

May 16, 2025

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Used auction market sees dip in volume, rise in price

The used truck auction market saw a drop in volumes lead to a boost in price in April, J.D. Power reported Thursday in its May Commercial Truck Guidelines report.

May 15, 2025

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Outlook and Benchmarking

ACT sees growing concern for freight carriers

ACT Research reports current economic uncertainty has only added to its expectations that 2025 will ultimately be a challenging one for for-hire carriers.

May 14, 2025

Truck At Loading Dock

Outlook and Benchmarking

Tariffs cast a shadow over economic forecasts

FTR webinar looks at factors in economic forecasting and why this year may be a challenging one.

May 8, 2025

Truck orders crash to five-year low

Class 8 truck orders plummeted in April, falling to the lowest single-month total since May 2020, FTR and ACT Research announced Friday.

May 2, 2025

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Business conditions improved in Q1 but future concerns exist

Business conditions improved nominally for dealers and substantially for aftermarket operations in Q1 but due to external factors, both fear the upswing could be short lived.

May 2, 2025

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Tonnage slips in March after prior gain

Trucking activity in the United States slipped in March, American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) reported Tuesday in its advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.

April 23, 2025

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Used auction, dealer sales volume rise in March

Sales volumes at used truck auctions and on dealer lots jumped in March and pricing was also nudging upward, J.D. Power reported Wednesday in its April Commercial Truck Guidelines report.

April 23, 2025

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Trade war could prolong freight recession

New data released by ACT Research and FTR reveal how continued trade uncertainty could put downward pressures on freight movement and demand.

April 22, 2025

Line Of Trucks At A Loading Dock

Final March orders show continued demand slide

Final March Class 8 orders were down year over year, analysts reported Monday.

April 21, 2025

March trailer orders show a surprise jump

Preliminary trailer orders leapt forward to a surprising degree last month, ACT Research and FTR reported Thursday.

April 17, 2025

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ATA's Costello shares tariff impact on economy, truck freight

It was starting to get better. You might have noticed it. Speaking Tuesday at the TRALA Annual Meeting, ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said there was a brief period in the first quarter where macroeconomic indicators were trending up for trucking.

April 8, 2025

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello

ZEV adoption forecast amended amid regulatory scuttle

ACT Research has released its newest decarbonization forecast, which incorporates expected advancements in zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) technologies.

April 7, 2025

Electric truck charging at station

Outlook and Benchmarking

Truck production facing 'substantial downside risks'

Commercial Motor Vehicle Consulting reports in the aftermath of another weak new truck order report and President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff announcement that Class 8 production could be in for a rough waters in the months ahead.

April 3, 2025

Few trucks parked at warehouse

Truck orders kept slipping March

ACT Research and FTR Intelligence reported preliminary Class 8 truck orders of 16,000 and 15,700 units, respectively, in March, deepening the market downswing that began in January.

April 3, 2025

Kenworth truck in a parking lot

Trade war may bring an opportunity for freight rates

"The significant private fleet prebuying in preparation for these rules in recent years is set to end or even reverse as tariffs hit, which is likely to reduce equipment supply."

March 28, 2025

A line of trucks driving on the highway

Used pricing fluctuations make it hard to know what's next

Class 8 retail used truck prices suffered their largest month over month drop in eight months in February, slipping 6.2% month over month, ACT Research reported Wednesday in its latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks report.

March 26, 2025

Row of trucks parked in a lot

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Vermont, Oregon punt adoption of California emission regs

Vermont and Oregon are the latest states to join the growing chorus pausing their adoption of California emission regulations.

President Donald Trump, center, along with, from left, British Ambassador Peter Mandelson, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and Vice President JD Vance, talk to reporters after reaching a trade agreement between the U.S. and Britain.

U.S, China agree to temporarily cut tariffs

California Truck Sticker

California settles, repeals electric truck purchase mandate

Tps Industry Survey Image

Business conditions improved in Q1 but future concerns exist

Green Truck Getting Charged

Dealer pessimism toward EVs on the rise

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