Sep 21ACT Research: Freight Markets Remain Soft Amid Private Fleet ExpansionThough significant progress has been made in rebalancing, we think it’s unlikely that industry capacity will broadly tighten until pressure from capacity growth eases, which seems unlikely for the next few months, according to the latest release of the Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report. “We’ve created a…Freight Shipping2 min readFreight Shipping2 min read
Sep 20ACT Research: Factors Signal a Fundamentally Weaker US Tractor Market in 2024As published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, ACT Research believes that “it’s different this time” factors are at work in 2024, and those factors will help support a fundamentally weak US tractor market. Those factors include ongoing pent-up vocational truck demand, strong tractor demand…Trucking2 min readTrucking2 min read
Sep 20ACT Research: Pent-Up Equipment Demand Likely to Fade into Year End, Though Vocational Truck Demand Remains StrongOn continued strong build rates and seasonally weak order volumes, the Class 8 backlog fell by 11,000 units to 152,600 units. At 5.3 months, the nominal backlog-to-build ratio is the lowest it’s been since fall 2020, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5–8 report. …Trucking3 min readTrucking3 min read
Sep 14ACT Research: Used Truck Sales Uncharacteristically High in AugustPreliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes surged 14% m/m in August, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3–8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research. Compared to July 2023, average retail price increased 1%, while miles and age both…Used Trucks3 min readUsed Trucks3 min read
Sep 5ACT Research: August Class 8 Truck Orders the Best Month Since February at 19,000 UnitsAugust preliminary NA Class 8 net orders were 19,000 units, down 9% y/y, but reflecting the best month since February. Continued economic strength and seasonal adjustment keep orders on trend. Complete industry data for August, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-September. “As represented by…Trucking3 min readTrucking3 min read
Aug 31ACT Research: July Used Retail Sales Decrease in Line with but Greater than ExpectedAccording to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3–8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 retail sales faltered for the first time in three months in July, declining 7.8% m/m. Average mileage decreased 2%, with average price down 5% and age 1% m/m. …Used Trucks3 min readUsed Trucks3 min read
Aug 22ACT Research: Analysts Forecast Higher Trailer Build in 2023 and 2024According to this quarter’s issue of ACT Research’s Trailer Components & Raw Materials Forecast, ACT’s US trailer forecasts for 2023 increased during the past three months. …Trailers2 min readTrailers2 min read
Aug 17ACT Research: With 2023 Overbooked, Class 8 Orders Will Now Set the Tone for 2024On continued strong build rates and seasonally weak order volumes, July’s NA Class 8 backlog fell by 11,632 units to 163,576 units. At 5.9 months, the nominal backlog-to-build ratio remains comfortably healthy into year end, according to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5–8 report. According to…Trucking3 min readTrucking3 min read
Aug 16ACT Research: Preliminary Net Trailer Orders Rise as ’24 Books Begin to OpenJuly’s preliminary net trailer orders increased sequentially, but were lower against longer-term comparisons, with 10,000 units. As the weakest order month of the year, July’s seasonally adjusted (SA) factor boosts the SA tally to 15,700 units. Final July results will be available later this month. …Trailers3 min readTrailers3 min read
Aug 16ACT Research: A Slow RebalancingThe rebalancing process in the US freight market is being drawn out by reluctance to part with workers and significant private fleet capacity expansion, even as pressure on fleets worsened this month as diesel prices spiked, according to the latest release of the Freight Forecast, U.S. …Freight Shipping2 min readFreight Shipping2 min read
