Economy

Canada key to Meritor aftermarket strategy

LAS VEGAS, NV – Mississauga, Ontario, will get a new distribution center this April as Meritor refines its North American aftermarket strategy. And it’s not the only way Canada is playing a key role in the company’s broader plans. “The aftermarket team has worked tirelessly this year to improve our delivery accuracy and speed,” says Brett Penzkofer, vice president – North American aftermarket. “Now we ship to customers on a daily basis, wherever they may be.” It’s come a long way.

ATA truck tonnage index dips in December

ARLINGTON, Va. — American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) for-hire truck tonnage index fell for the first time since September, down 5.7% in December. In December, the index equaled…

Aftermarket increasingly global, online

LAS VEGAS, NV – The business of selling truck parts has become increasingly global, introducing a series of new brands along the way. But the source of the parts is only one thing to change, as the industry is further transformed by the tools of e-commerce. “It’s amazing to see what’s happened in the last 10 to 15 years,” said Heavy Duty Manufacturing Association president Tim Kraus, referring to the global alliances of Volvo and Mack, Paccar and DAF, Navistar and Volkswagen, and equipment made under the Daimler umbrella.

FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index falls in November

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. —  FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) for November fell back from October to a more sustainable level with a 5.8 reading. Although there was a significant decline in…

Dip in Nov. conditions doesn’t mean a negative outlook: FTR

BLOOMINGTON, IN – Conditions remained strong in November despite a decline from the month before say analysts at FTR Intelligence. The group’s monthly index measured a month-over-month decline to a level it calls more sustainable after extreme weather and tight labor conditions caused a short-term spike in October.

Class 8 truck orders reach 37-month high

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Class 8 truck orders for December reached a 37-month high, according to final data from ACT Research. They came in at more than 37,500 units. Strong orders…

Spot markets soared as 2017 came to an end: DAT

PORTLAND, OR — Spot markets in the United States soared in December, with demand for both dry and refrigerated (reefer) van rates reaching their highest of 2017. The flatbed rate also remained high, matching its yearly peak.

Canadian Class 8 orders dip in Dec. while U.S. numbers climb

COLUMBUS, IN – An at-capacity freight market helped North American Class 8 orders close-out 2017 at a three-year high.

Spot market freight sets new records: TransCore

TORONTO, Ont. – TransCore Link Logistics has reported Q4 Canadian and cross-border load volumes on its Loadlink board broke historical records, when compared to any previous quarter. Fourth quarter load…

NAFTA deal still in question

TORONTO, ON – The future of NAFTA remains uncertain as negotiators prepare for their latest round of meetings, this time in Montreal. Months into discussions, nobody even knows if U.S. President Donald Trump will decide to outright scrap the deal that governs every load of cross-border freight. With about 10 million trucks crossing between Canada and the U.S. each year, there is plenty of business at stake. A recent survey by Export Development Canada even found that 26% of exporters would shift their business to the U.S. if the agreement was revoked outright. Trade between the U.S. and Canada tripled between 1986 and 2017, Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association executive director Ruth Snowden observed, during a January 17 seminar hosted by the Fernandes Hearn law firm in Toronto. “If [NAFTA] goes, it could be very significant.”

Year closes with record-breaking freight volumes

TORONTO, ON – Canadian freight volumes closed out 2017 in record-breaking fashion reports TransCore Link Logistics. The company says Canadian and cross-border freight volumes saw unprecedented growth in the last quarter of the year. Volumes were up by 51% year-over-year, and 9% compared to the previous quarter.

Trailer orders hit all-time high in December: FTR

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Net trailer orders reached an all-time high of 47,000 units in December, according to preliminary data from FTR. December’s order intake was 10% above November levels and…

Three Canadian dealerships added to Trail King’s network

MITCHELL, S.D. – Trailer manufacturer Trail King Industries has announced 12 new dealers across North America, including three in Canada, two of which are in the west. Expanding its dealer…

PacLease achieves record year

BELLEVUE, Wash. – PacLease has reported 2017 was a record year for the company, growing its lease and rental fleet by 30% and adding eight new locations. “The overall market…

VersaCold opens new Milton distribution center

MILTON, ON – It’s freezing in VersaCold’s new distribution center in Milton, Ontario. Below freezing, actually, and that’s a good thing. Officially opened on January 11, the structure shares little in common with the Sobey’s warehouse that once called it home. It has been transformed into a fully temperature-controlled environment, with individual zones chilled to temperatures between 4 and -30 Celsius. Investments have been made in generators, boilers, and refrigeration panels alike. Concrete floors have been raised and re-poured in 11 seamless sections. The underlying technology used to move pallets of frozen foodstuff has all been upgraded, even to the point of including voice-activated equipment.