2015 saw a strong year overall for the trucking sector and we witnessed the same in the hot shot trucking market with demand building throughout the year. The year-end numbers from ACT research also reveal that the long haul freight market for trucking continues to be in good health.
With the released figures for December truck orders, 2015 ended as the best year ever for sales and total production of Class 8 sleeper tractors and also for Class 5 trucks. The data shows that December saw 28,150 orders for Class 8 trucks and 22,450 for Classes 5-7, both figures helped to see the year finish on a high note.
More insight was provided by Steve Tam the Vice-President, commercial vehicle sector with ACT Research:
“Most notable was the US Class 8 sleeper tractor segment, which had its best production and sales year in history. Carriers anxious to take advantage of more fuel-efficient trucks, spurred by strong freight rate growth in the first part of the year, get the nod as the drivers behind the story.”
He did show more caution when discussing the prospects for 2016:
"Faced with excess freight hauling capacity and slowing freight growth, freight rates have softened to the point where many truckers are now taking a wait-and-see approach before committing to more new equipment.”
While Class 8 and Class 5 sales set a new benchmark last year there were no records set in other classes but overall Class 5-7 orders did increase by more than 4 percent when compared with the previous year.
