https://www.actresearch.net ACT Research is the leader in market data, industry analysis, and forecasting for the commercial vehicle and transportation markets. We provide a strategic view to help businesses plan for tomorrow. en-us https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/us-classes3-8-used-trucks-blog Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:30:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/us-classes3-8-used-trucks-blog Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, same dealer used Class 8 retail truck sales increased m/m for a second time in September. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks Report Overview ACT’s Classes 3-8 Used Truck report provides data on the average selling price, miles, and age based on a sample of industry…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/us-classes3-8-used-trucks-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/state-of-industry-u.s.-trailers-blog Tue, 28 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/state-of-industry-u.s.-trailers-blog Total Trailers Backlog & Backlog/Build Ratio September 2025 “With lower build rates insufficient to offset soft orders in September, the industry backlog-to-build ratio fell 30 basis points sequentially, to 3.3 months,” said Jennifer McNealy, Director–CV Market Research & Publications at ACT…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/state-of-industry-u.s.-trailers-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-forecast-blog-shippers Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:14:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-forecast-blog-shippers With freight markets still flat, rates slipping, and fleet investment stalling, proactive procurement and policy awareness remain critical competitive differentiators. As of October 2025, the freight environment appears calm on the surface: spot rates have softened , contract pricing remains flat ,…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-forecast-blog-shippers https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2027 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:39:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2027 Class 8 Truck Market: 2027 Outlook October 2025 Updated October 23, 2025 Regulatory Pressures The EPA’s Clean Trucks Plan (GHG Phase 3) and low-NOx standards remain the defining uncertainty for the 2027 Class 8 outlook. With regulatory timelines unresolved and tariffs embedded, fleets are expected…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2027 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2026 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:36:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2026 2026 Class 8 Truck Market October 2025 Updated October 23, 2025 Infrastructure and Construction Support Vocational Class 8 demand softened modestly in September but remains supported by infrastructure programs and municipal replacement cycles. OEMs continue to report elevated vocational inventories…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2026 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2025 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:31:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2025 2025 Class 8 Truck Market October 2025 Updated October 23, 2025 Infrastructure and Construction Support Vocational Class 8 demand was stable in September, supported by ongoing infrastructure investment and steady municipal replacement activity. Vocational net orders were down , reflecting tough…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2025 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-volume Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:26:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-volume When demand grows faster than capacity and the supply of drivers or tractors is short, the pendulum swings to the fleets and freight rates rise. When supply growth outpaces demand growth, the pendulum swings to the shipper and freight rates fall. ACT uses the Cass Freight Index®, which measures…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-volume https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/what-are-freight-rates Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:20:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/what-are-freight-rates Freight rates refer to the cost shippers pay carriers to haul their products within the truckload (TL) market. Freight rates are calculated based on many factors not limited to economic demand, fleet capacity, fuel prices, weight, size, distance, and the type of goods being shipped. It’s important…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/what-are-freight-rates https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-for-2027 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:12:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-for-2027 Trucking Industry 2027 Outlook October 2025 Updated: October 23, 2025 The trucking industry’s outlook for 2027 remains shaped by regulatory uncertainty, tariff pressures, and cautious fleet investment. The EPA’s 2027 low-NOx rule is facing mounting legal and political challenges, leaving fleets…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-for-2027 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-for-2026 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:06:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-for-2026 Trucking Industry 2026 Outlook October 2025 Updated October 23, 2025 The trucking industry heads toward 2026 in a state of cautious stabilization, shaped by capacity correction, tighter build discipline, and selective fleet investment. While tariffs and regulatory uncertainty remain key headwinds,…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-for-2026 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2025 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:25:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2025 While capacity is beginning to tighten gradually, freight volumes remain soft and tariff-driven cost pressures continue to weigh on margins, keeping the pace of rebalancing slow and uneven. Looking ahead to 2026, the North American trucking industry faces a highly uncertain environment shaped by…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2025 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/northamerica-commercialvehicle-forecast-blog Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:30:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/northamerica-commercialvehicle-forecast-blog The ongoing trade war and regulatory limbo continue to weigh on the for-hire market recovery, and by extension, tractor demand, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK . “For for-hire carriers, still managing the longest downturn in recent history,…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/northamerica-commercialvehicle-forecast-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/north-america-class-8-blog Wed, 22 Oct 2025 01:30:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/north-america-class-8-blog Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 20,666 units in September, down 44% y/y, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report. Total Class 8: North American Net Orders September 2025 “This was the weakest September for orders since 2019 as tariffs,…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/north-america-class-8-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-forecast-blog Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-forecast-blog While demand trends are mixed and the outlook remains cloudy, capacity continues to contract, as discussed in the latest release of the Freight Forecast: Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report. Freight Forecast Report Overview The monthly 58-page ACT freight forecast provides analysis and forecasts for a…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-forecast-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/road-to-autonomy-whats-changed-since-2022 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:03:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/road-to-autonomy-whats-changed-since-2022 A number of significant developments have taken place over the past three years since ACT Research published our inaugural study on autonomy for commercial vehicles: “ Driving Automation – Commercial Transportation’s Pursuit of Level 4 Autonomy ”. Coming Soon: ACT Research's Latest Driving…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/road-to-autonomy-whats-changed-since-2022 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-build-sales-data Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:52:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-build-sales-data Most rely on demand-side indicators like: Cass Freight Index® – Shipments DAT and Truckstop load boards Port, rail, and intermodal volume data FreightWaves and other sentiment trackers While valuable, these datasets are all rear-view mirrors — lagging indicators that reflect what’s already…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-build-sales-data https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/relationship-building-class-8-tractors-u-s-fleet-size Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:45:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/relationship-building-class-8-tractors-u-s-fleet-size In economics, the formula is simple: Demand – Supply = Price. Understanding true market capacity — the number of trucks available to move freight — is far more challenging. When too many trucks chase too little freight, rates fall. When freight outpaces available trucks, rates spike. And when…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/relationship-building-class-8-tractors-u-s-fleet-size https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/act-research-market-vitals-seminar-73-challenges-costs-and-change Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:21:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/act-research-market-vitals-seminar-73-challenges-costs-and-change The seminar spotlighted ongoing market headwinds, labor concerns, and truck supply cycles. Ken Vieth, President & Senior Analyst, and Jim Meil, Principal, Industry Analysis of ACT Research, sat down to chat about what we heard at Market Vitals Seminar 73. ACT Research will continue providing…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/act-research-market-vitals-seminar-73-challenges-costs-and-change https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/fireside-chat-ten-x-act-research Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:20:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/fireside-chat-ten-x-act-research The conversation covers: Current Trailer Market Snapshot Tariff “Whiplash” and Business Decisions Reefer Market Pressures Consumer Trends and Stability in the Reefer Segment Tariff Timeline to Watch Market Crosscurrents: Challenges & Opportunities While uncertainty around tariffs, interest rates,…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/fireside-chat-ten-x-act-research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/northamerica-commercialvehicle-decarb-forecast-blog Wed, 23 Apr 2025 08:30:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/northamerica-commercialvehicle-decarb-forecast-blog ACT Research’s recently released decarbonization forecast, North America Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK Plus , incorporates expected advancements in zero-emission technologies of battery-electric vehicles (BEV), fuel cell-electric vehicles (FCEV), and natural gas (NG) as an alternative decarbonization…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/northamerica-commercialvehicle-decarb-forecast-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/act-research-seminar-72-a-look-back-and-the-road-ahead Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:13:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/act-research-seminar-72-a-look-back-and-the-road-ahead Now that we're three weeks removed from ACT Research’s Market Vitals Seminar 72, we have a clearer perspective on the key insights shared and how market conditions are unfolding. At the seminar, panelists expressed cautious optimism for a freight market recovery in the second half of 2025. Quote…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/act-research-seminar-72-a-look-back-and-the-road-ahead https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2024 Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:30:00 -0500 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2024 As we enter the final quarter of 2024, the North American trucking industry continues to navigate economic shifts and market adjustments. Trucking Industry Trends – 2024 Year in Review Economic Overview: The U.S. Freight and Transportation: Freight demand displayed modest resilience in 2024, with…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2024 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2024-2 Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:30:00 -0500 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2024-2 2024 Class 8 Truck Market Year in Review The Class 8 market closed 2024 with a notable performance, reflecting both resilience and strategic adjustments within the industry. The year-end total is projected to reach approximately 324,700 units, an increase from 2023’s total of 315,952 units, driven…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2024-2 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucks-orders-2025 Wed, 18 Sep 2024 10:30:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucks-orders-2025 After attending ACT Research's Market Vitals: The Current and Future Health of the Market Seminar 71 on August 21-22, 2024, Brett Lankford from Fetch Freight and Tim Denoyer from ACT Research reflected on the Class 8 market, the role that private fleets have played in the out-of-cycle order…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucks-orders-2025 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/supply-visibility Tue, 05 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0500 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/supply-visibility After attending ACT Research's Market Vitals: The Current and Future Health of the Market Seminar 70 on February 21-22, David Spencer from Arrive Logistics and Tim Denoyer from ACT Research reflected on the current freight market and what the trucking industry can expect over the next six months…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/supply-visibility https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2023 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2023 Trucking Industry Forecast: 2023 Year in Review 2023 was a transitional year for the trucking industry, with several key developments shaping the market: Freight Market Stabilization : After a turbulent start, freight volumes began stabilizing in Q3, driven by gradual improvements in consumer…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2023 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/alternative-to-diesel-h2-ice Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:50:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/alternative-to-diesel-h2-ice Where do we get the hydrogen fuel? Part 3 of this series concentrates on what fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) alternatives have to offer. The fuel tanks may be different, but overall, the vehicle is pretty much the same. The zero-emissions path will have fuel cells, hydrogen tanks, electric…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/alternative-to-diesel-h2-ice https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2023 Thu, 05 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2023 Class 8 Truck Market: 2023 Year in Review 2023 was a dynamic year for Class 8 truck sales, building off a strong base of 309,615 units sold in 2022.. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2023 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/market-updates Sun, 17 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/market-updates along with Steve Tam from ACT Research reflected on economics, the development of clean technology, the dealer market, pent-up demand + prebuy, and the used and medium-duty sectors. Scroll down to view the full conversation between Kirk and Steve. We know where the challenges are, and we know what…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/market-updates https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/charging-forward-blog Tue, 12 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/charging-forward-blog Rundle concluded, “By 2040 we are forecasting that adoption of ZEVs will account for just slightly above 50%—essentially half of all CVs will be zero emissions, primarily BEVs.” CHARGING FORWARD is an economic-driven, bottoms-up analysis of the North American battery and fuel cell electric vehicle…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/charging-forward-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/alternative-fuels-quarterly-blog Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:30:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/alternative-fuels-quarterly-blog Sales of natural gas-powered vehicles were mixed in the December to February timeframe, according to the latest Alternative Fuels Quarterly by ACT Research. Through the first two months of 2023, reporting OEMs have sold 403 NG-powered Class 8 units.” Alternative Fuels Quarterly Report Overview The…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/alternative-fuels-quarterly-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/the-hype-and-the-reality-are-coming-together-ntea-work-truck-show-recap Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:07:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/the-hype-and-the-reality-are-coming-together-ntea-work-truck-show-recap From alternative fuel vehicles to telematics and safety technologies, there was something for everyone at this event; with product announcements and customer conversations, Work Truck Week gave these two industry experts a chance to identify the challenges and opportunities from manufacturers,…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/the-hype-and-the-reality-are-coming-together-ntea-work-truck-show-recap https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/na-on-highway-engine-forecast-blog Tue, 04 Apr 2023 16:03:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/na-on-highway-engine-forecast-blog But instead of being centered in 1H’23, our current thinking aligns downturn timing with the game of chicken being played in DC around the debt-ceiling and US credit worthiness.” The NA on-highway engine forecast , published by ACT Research and Escelant [ Rhein Associates ], highlights power-source…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/na-on-highway-engine-forecast-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/transportation-transparency Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:57:00 -0500 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/transportation-transparency Freight rates and volumes are directly impacted by supply and demand. Today, we're still seeing signs of "stronger for longer" rates that favor carriers, all because the supply chain issues are impacting the production of new Class 8 tractors. The current market, while exaggerated, is a microcosm…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/transportation-transparency https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/truckload-cycle-demand-drivers-of-freight Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:49:00 -0500 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/truckload-cycle-demand-drivers-of-freight The historical truckload cycle gives insights into the current truckload environment and what to anticipate as we measure the demand and supply of the freight market. If we start in a loose to roughly balanced supply-demand environment, the cycle begins with freight growth leading to tightening…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/truckload-cycle-demand-drivers-of-freight