Economic trends

Trailers
ACT says 'expect backlogs to contract' in trailer market
ACT Research finalized its May trailer order number to 19,445 units on Thursday, down just 0.8 percent from April and 93 percent higher than May 2021.
June 23, 2022
ACT Research net trailer order ratio, three month moving average
Indicators
As recession risk grows, predicting the future for CV production is hazy
“We believe the likelihood of a U.S. economic recession is growing and probability of a mild recession is now about as likely as that of our base-case scenario,” says ACT Research.
June 17, 2022
Crystal ball with chart inside for market conditions
Used trucks
ACT Research bearish about used market after May sales scuffle
ACT Research confirmed Wednesday what was first reported by J.D. Power on Tuesday — May was the first poor month in a long time for used truck sales.
June 15, 2022
A row of black Freightliner tractors parked
Trailers
Trailer orders show little change in May
Trailer orders were nearly unchanged from April to May as the trucking industry continues to face economic uncertainties, geopolitical risks, and continued supply chain disruptions, FTR reported Tuesday.
June 14, 2022
FTR Trailer orders for May 2022 chart
Used trucks
J.D. Power reports used market dynamics shifting; prices fell in May
Used truck auction pricing saw its first significant downswing in more than a year in May while retail prices also slipped by nearly 2 percent, J.D. Power announced Tuesday in its June 2022 Commercial Truck Guidelines industry report.
June 14, 2022
Blue Class 8 tractor driving down a highway
Indicators
'Odds of a recession materializing' due to market factors
ACT Research announced in its North American Commercial Vehicle Outlook report Monday that while a soft landing remains the U.S. economy’s most likely path in the months ahead, the potential for a mild recession is increasing.
June 13, 2022
Three trucks and trailers on roadway in the mountains
Indicators
Class 8 orders hit six-month low as OEMs battle supply chain
Class 8 truck orders continued their downward trend in May, FTR and ACT Research announced Friday.
June 3, 2022
Peterbilt Model 579
Trailers
Trailer build slots nearly filled for 2022
According to this quarter’s ACT Research’s Trailer Components Report, released last week, North American trailer OEMs are rapidly filling available 2022 production slots, with both dry van and reefer build-to-backlog stretching deep into December.
May 30, 2022
Manufacturing components for heavy equipment
Indicators
Despite loosening demand, Class 8 production to remain constrained
ACT Research reported in its scheduled Transportation Digest and Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest updates this week that leading indicators for Class 8 tractor production have started to shift.
May 25, 2022
ACT Research tractor dashboard
Indicators
ACT Research: Dry van orders a drag on April trailer orders
A dramatic month-over-month decline in dry van orders was responsible for an overall drop in U.S. trailer orders in April.
May 23, 2022
ACT Research net orders for April 2022
Used trucks
Used truck market pulls back for first time in April
The used truck pricing wave has crested. After nearly 18 months of record-setting gains, prices for used trucks sold in the auction and retail channels slowed in April, J.D. Power announced Monday in its May 2022 Commercial Truck Guidelines report.
May 16, 2022
Truck in urban area
Used trucks
Dealer used truck sales fell in April as inventory became thin
ACT Research announced Monday preliminary Class 8 used truck same dealer sales volumes fell by 40 percent month over month in April and were 33 percent below April 2021.
May 16, 2022
Class 8 trucks parked in row
Indicators
April trailer orders fall as OEMs limit order acceptance
Trailer orders followed truck orders downward in April. ACT Research preliminary trailer orders fell to 16,100 units last month. FTR's preliminary trailer orders were slightly higher at 16,800 units.
May 13, 2022
2022 trailer order totals from ACT Research
Freight demand
As rates fall again, risk of freight recession 'now considerable'
U.S. freight volumes fell last month compared to March and April 2021, according to the recent Cass Transportation Index April 2022 report.
May 12, 2022
Reefer trailers parked in docks
Freight demand
Biden Issues Plan to Speed Up Infrastructure Projects; Some Concerned 2-Year Goal Omitted
Two-year goal set by infrastructure law not mentioned in new action plan, road contractor group says.
May 12, 2022
Biden infrastructure projects bridge building
Indicators
ACT Research, FTR report slow CV new order activity in April
Constrained industry production and a backlog ahead of the 12-month build plan led to CV new orders remaining largely subdued in April.
May 4, 2022
FTR chart of March new truck orders (preliminary)
Indicators
Trailer orders increase in March on strength of dry vans
A 71 percent sequential surge in dry van net orders accounted for 96 percent of the total industry month-over-month gain, ACT Research reports.
April 27, 2022
ACT March 2022 net trailer orders
Indicators
Used Class 8 retail sales record second straight month of improved volumes
Used Class 8 retail volumes were 11 percent higher month-over-month. Longer term, volumes were down 27 percent year over year, according to ACT Research.
April 26, 2022
Line of used trucks in lot
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