Economy

Big Freight merges with Kelsey Trail Trucking

WINNIPEG, Man. – Big Freight Systems has announced it will merge with Kelsey Trail Trucking, combining to operate nearly 750 tractors and trailers. Kelsey Trail will operate as a division…

Shippers seeing no relief to capacity, pricing pressures

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – U.S. shippers did not see any capacity or rate relief in April, according to the latest FTR Shippers Conditions Index, which reached a new low with a…

Class 8 orders remain hot through June

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Class 8 orders exceeded 40,000 units in June, for the fourth time in six months. Preliminary data from ACT Research pointed to 42,200 units being ordered. “Preliminary…

Canadian sales surged in April: WardsAuto

TORONTO, Ont. – North American orders for Class 8 trucks surged to 34,735 units in April – and Canada played a big role. This was the only market to experience a month-over-month gain, and the 5,815 units booked represented the country’s largest monthly order intake since early 2006, said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst for ACT Research. “The heavier end of the medium-duty market continues to outperform the lighter end, with Class 5 orders in April improving 4$ year to date, and the Classes 6-7 April orders bringing that segment’s year-to-date rise to 37%.” Freightliner led April’s Class 6, 7 and 8 sales with a respective 52, 170 and 931 trucks sold in Canada, according to stats provided by WardsAuto. But year to date, Freightliner still trailed International’s 514 Class 7 trucks and Hino’s 165 Class 6 units. Ford topped the month’s Class 5 sales at 429 units.

Transportation costs continue to rise

TORONTO, Ont. – The cost of ground transportation for Canadian shippers rose for the sixth straight month in April, according to the latest Canadian General Freight Index. Costs rose 1.3%…

Trailer orders up 27% y-o-y in May

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Trailer orders were up 27% year-over-year in May, with industry production now committed to nearly Christmas. ACT Research reported net orders of 22,900 units in May, down…

Updated: ‘An excellent position to set records’: Peterbilt GM

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Peterbilt general manager Jason Skoog is understandably bullish about the state of North America’s truck market.

Truck orders remain strong through May

COLUMBUS, Ind. – May’s Class 8 order activity continued trending above capacity, according to the latest data from ACT Research. There were 35,608 units booked in May. “Continuing to be…

One of the best freight markets ever continues: ATA

ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. for-hire truck tonnage rose 0.7% in May, and was 7.8% stronger than May 2017, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The ATA also revised up…

May continues record-setting year for Canadian spot market

TORONTO, Ont. – A record-setting year for Canadian spot market load volumes continued in May, according to the latest data from TransCore Link Logistics. May volumes were up 23% year-over-year,…

Construction on second new Alberta facility begins for Trailcon

CALGARY, Alta. – Trailcon Leasing has broken ground on a new Calgary facility, the second new location the company has begun work on in Alberta in the past couple of…

Tight labor market keeping carriers from fully cashing in on high rate environment

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trucking conditions for carriers remained strong in April, with the FTR Trucking Conditions Index reflecting strong freight demand and continued tightness in capacity. The index read 11.5,…

Mullen Group announces pair of acquisitions

OKOTOKS, Alta. – The Mullen Group announced it has entered into a letter of intent to acquire the shares of Canadian Hydrovac Ltd. (CHL), as well as an agreement with…

Custom Truck Sales expands in Estevan

ESTEVAN, Sask. – Custom Truck Sales has relocated its Estevan, Sask., facility in an effort to better service its customers. The new nine-acre location at 201 Shand Road is situated…

Capacity remains tight despite trade and regualtion uncertainty: FTR

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The economy continues to be strong, with spot rates, employment rates, and load postings all reaching record-setting levels in the last several weeks, but trucking is still susceptible to coming changes say industry analysts.