From what happened this year to what is projected to happen next year sales-wise, the heavy-duty truck market will be set up for a “modest rebound in 2021 followed by growth into 2023,” according to Act Research.
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index slipped into negative territory again for September when it hit its lowest point since May, reflecting a relatively weak environment for carriers.
As equipment ordering season for 2020 kicks off, October trailer orders hit the highest level since November 2018.
Class 8 truck orders hit a high point for 2019 in October; however, in what is traditionally a great month for truck orders, that performance marked the weakest level since 2016, according to preliminary reports.
Trailer orders hit the highest level of 2019 in September, rebounding a bit from a slow year for equipment sales, and it could indicate that fleets are more optimistic about 2020.
Freight transportation analysis firm FTR is reporting that the truck freight environment was mediocre in August and was likely to stay that way through 2020.
You can no longer expect to run a motor carrier of any size without at least a glancing appreciation for the impact logistics— in one way or another-- has on every link in the supply chain.
August data from ACT Research's For-Hire Trucking Index show a pull back from July’s surprising and anomalous surge and a forecast for continued negative conditions until 2020.
Economic activity drives the freight market, but paying attention only to indicators of the economy’s overall health doesn’t tell the whole story of what may be ahead for trucking.
A government official expert at analyzing labor trends contends that trucking is not experiencing a driver shortage, rather she sees the problem as one of painful turnover in one segment of the industry.