COLUMBUS, Ind. — The heavy truck and trailer industries are heading for a market correction in 2020, even as the US economic picture remains largely unchanged, aside from concerns about trade and tariffs.
So says the latest release of the ACT Research Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest.
The key driver of the near to mid-term outlook is the U.S. consumer, who remains well positioned to keep the economy out of the ditch, even as key freight-generating sectors of the economy take a pause, the report said.
“Data that support our forecast of an impending market correction continue to mount, with the biggest driver of the change for both Class 8 and trailers being the continued building of new equipment inventories in 2019 that will require right-sizing in 2020,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “Since March 2018, ACT’s forecasts have targeted 2019’s third quarter as the point at which the supply of Class 8 tractors and demand for freight services would likely tip so far as to break the current period of peak vehicle production, as demand reverts to the mean.”
Current data and anecdotes make a strong case that the call for a third quarter inflection remains intact.
“We monitor freight volumes and rates, fleet growth, and other metrics that point to the impending demise of the current upcycle in heavy CV demand,” Vieth said. “Economic data of note this month came from weak manufacturing industrial production. As well, durable goods orders have stagnated, as have the ISM and Markit Purchasing Managers’ indices, while building permits have been down year-over-year for the past six months. Over time, the shape of the IP series, if at different percentages, broadly mirrors the shape of the Class 8 cycle.”
The ISM Manufacturing Index is a widely-watched indicator of recent U.S. economic activity. The index is often referred to as the Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI).
It is based on a survey of purchasing managers at more than 300 manufacturing firms by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) and monitors changes in production levels from month to month.
The Purchasing Managers’ Index is based on monthly surveys of carefully selected companies representing major and developing economies worldwide.
The PMI is a composite index that gives equal weighting to new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries, and inventories. Each factor is seasonally adjusted.
ACT Research is a publisher of commercial vehicle truck, trailer, and bus industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American and China markets. ACT’s analytical services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as banking and investment companies.
More information can be found at www.actresearch.net.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
