ACT Research News Updates

ACT Research said sales rose 5.3% to 23,800 units from 22,600 a year earlier, but slipped 4.4% sequentially from 24,900 units.

The ACT Research report expected a sequential drop in net orders, with May traditionally marking the second-weakest order month of the annual cycle.

It's clear the market has turned and the longest freight downturn in industry memory is at an ending, but unrelenting uncertainty is here to stay, researchers say.

U.S. Class 8 retail sales continue to face buyer reticence even as improving market conditions spurred growing optimism in May.

ACT Research preliminary data showed orders increased 103% year over year, while FTR Transportation Intelligence reported an even larger 124% gain.

Used Class 8 truck sales plateaued with the retail, auction and wholesale markets driving mixed results for April, according to ACT Research data.

Preliminary net data from ACT Research showed orders rose 126% year over year to 19,400 units, though the report noted that prior-year trailer orders were weak.

Omdia Automotive found that Classes 4-7 retail truck sales decreased 18.5% to 15,293 from 18,754 units reported during the prior-year period.

Mack's Jonathan Randall noted that improving freight rates, tightening capacity and recovering freight demand continue to support order strength.

ACT Research reported that sales increased 10.2% to 24,900 units from 22,600 the prior year. Sales were also 9.8% above the 22,700 units in February.