A number of freight transportation and commercial vehicle market factors are aligning and setting the stage for continued improvement in demand for heavy-duty vehicles in the second half of 2010 and into 2011
A number of freight transportation and commercial vehicle market factors are aligning and setting the stage for continued improvement in demand for heavy-duty vehicles in the second half of 2010 and into 2011, according to ACT Research Co.
In the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle Outlook, ACT projects full-year production of heavy-duty (Class 8) vehicles will be up 26% compared with 2009. The forecast for medium-duty vehicle (Classes 5-7) production remains at 12% year-over-year growth as the housing and construction sectors struggle to regain footing.
“Key building blocks to support improved demand for heavy-duty commercial vehicles are coming into alignment,” said Kenny Vieth, senior analyst and partner with ACT. “On the transportation side, all major freight indicators are solidly positive, which has allowed truckload hauling capacity to tighten rapidly. This in turn is allowing freight rates to rise and sets the stage for materially stronger trucker profits. And with used-truck values steadily rising, trucking companies are now in a good position to replace an aged fleet.”
Voice your opinion!
To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!
What challenges are top of mind for fleet professionals in 2025? Get exclusive insights from the 2025 Fleet Trends Survey and discover where the industry is headed next.
The most successful fleets accomplish more than delivering freight. To accomplish this, fleets need a fuel that’s reliable, more economical and more sustainable. That fuel is ...
Are your KPIs driving real fleet improvement? Learn how to set smarter, data-driven benchmarks, track success like top-performing fleets, and apply proven strategies to optimize...
Learn how eets can enhance truck utilization and minimize safety incidents using business intelligence and AI. Delve into innovative practices, technology integration and real...