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/fireside-chat-ten-x-act-research Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:40:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/fireside-chat-ten-x-act-research The conversation covers: Uncertainty Is Driving Short-Term Leasing and Delayed Decisions Replacement Demand Is Steady, but Growth Is on Pause Tariffs Are Accelerating a Short-Term Ordering Surge As uncertainty looms over the trailer market, this conversation underscores the balancing act fleets are…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/fireside-chat-ten-x-act-research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/north-america-class-8-blog Wed, 02 Jul 2025 01:30:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/north-america-class-8-blog June preliminary North America Classes 5-8 net orders of 21.3k units declined 39% y/y. He continued, “With that in mind, preliminary Class 8 orders totaled 9,400 units, down 36% y/y.” North American Classes 5-7 Net Orders June 2025 Prelim Regarding medium duty, he added, “Economic uncertainty and…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/north-america-class-8-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/us-classes3-8-used-trucks-blog Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:30:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/us-classes3-8-used-trucks-blog Combined, total used sales lagged the first five months of last year by 6.7%, leaving our outlook for 2025 unchanged.” “The used truck market is awash in uncertainty that seems to have a stranglehold on both buyers and sellers. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks Report Overview ACT’s Classes 3-8 Used Truck…. 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 Fri, 20 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/state-of-industry-u.s.-trailers-blog Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current US trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders, and factory shipments. ACT Research…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/state-of-industry-u.s.-trailers-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/what-are-freight-rates Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:08:00 -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-2025 Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:04:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2025 Key factors such as freight demand, equipment production, and macroeconomic shifts will present a blend of opportunities and hurdles. Real GDP growth remains weak, and high-frequency indicators show declines in business investment, slipping consumer sentiment, and a softer labor market—all of which…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2025 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-for-2026 Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:58:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-for-2026 Policy volatility, trade uncertainty, and lingering inflationary pressures remain major challenges, but capacity discipline, moderating equipment investment, and gradual freight normalization are contributing to a more balanced operating environment. Industry progress remains dependent on improved…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-for-2026 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-volume Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:54:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-volume Freight volume refers to the amount of goods, import and export, moving through the transportation industry. ACT uses the Cass Freight Index®, which measures freight volumes and expenditures, and the Truckload Linehaul Index®, a pricing indicator, to forecast freight demand. Updated Freight Volume…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-volume https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2025 Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:51:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2025 2025 Class 8 Truck Market – June 2025 Infrastructure and Construction Support Vocational Class 8 demand remains relatively resilient, buoyed by ongoing infrastructure activity and stable municipal funding. In contrast, tractor demand continues to weaken, weighed down by soft freight volumes,…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2025 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2026 Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:47:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2026 Class 8 Truck Market: 2026 Outlook – June 2025 Regulatory Pressures The EPA’s Clean Truck and GHG-3 regulations remain central to long-term fleet planning, but the regulatory environment has become increasingly unpredictable. Average equipment pricing is expected to rise further into 2026,…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-truck-sales-forecast-2026 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-forecast-blog Tue, 17 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-forecast-blog Much depends on developments in the trade war in the coming months, 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 broad range of U.S. The…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/freight-forecast-blog https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/northamerica-commercialvehicle-forecast-blog Wed, 14 May 2025 08:30:00 -0400 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/northamerica-commercialvehicle-forecast-blog Entering 2025 in an already weakened state, newfound economic uncertainty has only added to our expectation of yet another challenging year for for-hire carriers and the commercial vehicle industry, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK. NA CV Forecast…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/northamerica-commercialvehicle-forecast-blog 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/relationship-building-class-8-tractors-u-s-fleet-size Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:53:00 -0500 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/relationship-building-class-8-tractors-u-s-fleet-size Demand - Supply = Price. What is the supply or capacity, and how will that impact freight rates? Rates, or price, are a major concern to all classifications of businesses within the supply chain and logistics spectrum. To understand both demand and supply and how they’ll interact to drive price.…. 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/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 https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-build-sales-data Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:35:00 -0500 ACT Research https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-build-sales-data fleet size and market capacity through our Class 8 tractor build and sales data. Coupling our Class 8 tractor population with industry data, like Cass and DAT, you’ll gain a more accurate view of the capacity of the freight market. Analysis In addition to recording the historical Class 8 production…. Read the full post at https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/class-8-build-sales-data