Demand for heavy-duty trucks will improve as trucking fleet profitability increases, according to ACT Research, a firm that tracks trucking industry trends.
ACT officials predict that full-year production of Class 8 vehicles will be up 26% vs. 2009, "and will accelerate into 2011. Production of commercial trailers is expected to increase by 47% in 2010 and also post strong growth in 2011."
"Trucker profitability rebounded sharply in the second quarter, fueled by tightening capacity and rising freight rates," says John Burton, vice president, transportation sector, at ACT. "Even with modest economic growth, commercial vehicle demand should continue to rise as carriers appear to be replacing an aging fleet but not adding capacity."
