North American Truck Production Expected to Rise 15% in 2014, ACT Says

COLUMBUS, Ind. — North American truck production in 2013 is on course to virtually match last year and will spike almost 15% in 2014 on stronger economic growth, ACT Research President Kenny Vieth predicted.

Vieth gauged this year’s U.S., Canadian and Mexican total at 247,500 units, a modest dip from 249,400 in 2012. ACT’s expectations were scaled back last year as fleets delayed investment decisions during the “fiscal cliff” debate in Washington.

He also said the sales pace will remain flat this year because economic uncertainty remains but should reach 282,500 next year. Growth in housing, manufacturing and consumer spending will take time to translate into truck production, he said.

“About this time last year, we thought 2013 would be the peak of the cycle,” Vieth said at the ACT Research seminar here prior to the Mid-America Trucking Show. “Now it looks like 2014.”

ACT also said the U.S. economy is pointing toward steady 3% growth later this year and into 2014.

For more coverage of the ACT Research seminar, see the March 25 issue of Transport Topics.