Economic trends

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

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

Biden Issues Plan to Speed Up Infrastructure Projects; Some Concerned 2-Year Goal Omitted

Two-year goal set by infrastructure law omitted from new action plan, road contractor group says.

May 12, 2022

Biden infrastructure projects bridge building

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)

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

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

ACT Research reports Class 8 NG truck retail sales gains

For the first two months of 2022, U.S. and Canadian Class 8 natural gas truck retail sales rose 21 percent year to date against comparisons of the same period in 2021.

April 25, 2022

Steve Tam, ACT Research vice president

Outlook and Benchmarking

Supply chain, inflation, other concerns addressed by HDMA Pulse Webinar

Inflation and materials supply continue to weigh heavily on the minds of suppliers according to Wednesday’s Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) Pulse Webinar.

April 21, 2022

John Blodgett, vice president, Sales & Marketing, MacKay & Company; Richard Anderson, senior director, Research & Analysis, HDMA; and Dr. Bob Dieli, economist, MacKay & Company

Used truck sales benefit from moderate supply-chain improvements

Same dealer used truck sales grew month over month in March but were lower compared with the same period last year.

April 19, 2022

Line Of Trucks On A Summer Day

Retail used prices continuing to set records; auction market leveling

Though retail used truck prices continue to break records, pricing in the used truck auction space appears to be leveling a bit, J.D. Power announced last week in its April 2022 Commercial Truck Guidelines industry report.

April 18, 2022

Used trucks parked on lot

FTR confirms trailer order surge

"Most of the big OEMs were stuck in a holding pattern on orders since the supply chain tightened. The fact they have the confidence now to enter more orders may indicate that supplier deliveries are showing improvement, and labor shortages are abating."

April 14, 2022

FTR March 2022 trailer orders

Trailer orders surge as final 2022 build slots fill up

Preliminary trailer orders hit their highest point since December 2020 in March as trailer manufacturers accepted more orders in filling final build slots for the year ahead, ACT Research announced Wednesday.

April 14, 2022

ACT trailer orders March 2022

Freight market course corrects downward

"While a mid-2022 deceleration in freight activity and rates has long been anticipated in ACT’s freight market research and the timing of the turn was as anticipated, the magnitude of the correction was considerably larger than expected."

April 12, 2022

Trucks on highway

TPS introduces quarterly MarketPulse survey

Trucks, Parts, Service has developed a quarterly market survey to measure business conditions in the dealer and independent aftermarket channels. Complete survey results will be available to all participants, so sign up now.

April 10, 2022

TPS industry survey image

Alternative power

TRALA meeting business sessions discuss EPA regulations, economy

Emission regulations remained at the forefront of the 2022 TRALA Annual Meeting Tuesday with a business session featuring EPA Deputy Associate Administrator Alejandra Núñez.

April 5, 2022

Aaron Terrazas with Convoy

Class 8 truck orders maintain steady yet unappealing pace in March

“The March order total reflects a market frozen in place," says FTR's Don Ake. "All the OEMs are evaluating the business environment monthly and only entering enough orders to fill in about a month’s worth of production."

April 5, 2022

Line of commercial trucks

CMVC predicts strong future growth in aftermarket parts sales

The factors in place driving commercial vehicle parts aftermarket sales will remain in place in the coming months, resulting in continual strong growth.

March 29, 2022

CMVC CV Parts Aftermarket Sales Leading Indicator

Used Class 8 sales volumes, average price higher in February

Rising fuel prices and a decline in spot freight rates could mean a future slowdown in used truck demand.

March 28, 2022

Trucks parked in lot.

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Electricity from wheel ends routing to batteries

Regenerative braking: Catch up on the future of slowing down

As hybrid and electric truck adoption rates continue to grow, dealers and aftermarket operations soon will be exposed to a lot of unfamiliar systems and technologies they’ll be expected to maintain. One of those innovations is regenerative braking.

Freightliner eCascadia truck

Freightliner unveils new electric eCascadia

Goodyear soybean-oil developed tires

Goodyear integrating soybean oil compound into transit bus tires

Employees looking at computer monitor in warehouse

The importance of e-commerce sites during a parts shortage

Jim Allen's truck at Karmak HQ

Karmak CEO Jim Allen’s unique approach to customer service and engagement

Learn how to move your used trucks faster

With unsold used inventory depreciating at a rate of more than 2% monthly, efficient inventory turnover is a must for dealers. Download this eBook to access proven strategies for selling used trucks faster.

Used Truck Guide Cover

Learn about Turbo Solutions All Makes Turbocharger Program

Turbochargers for all engine applications. Click to learn more!