The Fleet Business Authority
Issue link: http://heavydutytrucking.epubxp.com/i/236631
hotline Trucking's Most Respected Business Report Tokyo Motor Show An interesting newcomer at the T okyo Motor Show was the South Korean Hyundai Xcient heavy truck. It is already sold in its homeland Korea and export plans remains to be finalized. Quotable "Carriers will be 'eating' about half of the revenue loss [from hours-of service productivity loss], at least until they can negotiate new contract rates for 2014." – Mark Montague, DAT, in a blog post analyzing rate changes after the HOS rule change. 18 HDT • JANUARY 2014 November net orders for U.S and Canada Class 8 trucks fell for the first time in four months to 18,864, below expectations. This was down 19.5% from the October levels, and down 6.2% year-over-year Source: FTR; Copyright 2013 (U.S./Canada Net Orders) after besting last year's numbers for several months. December is typically one of the strongest order months of the year. Given the level of trucking activity, it would suggest that orders are likely to rebound. For more information, contact Eric Starks at (888) 988-1699 or go to www.ftrintel.com/hdt. New Truck Lead Time For Class 8 trucks ordered in November, the average time (using a three month average build) from order to delivery held fairly stable at 3.8 months. A reading below 4 suggests production levels are enough to meet current demand. Source: FTR; Copyright 2013 (N.A. OEM Backlog/Build Ratio, Months) It has been below 4 for many months, putting pressure on OEMs to lower build rates. Inventory rates stabilized in November, so decision time is near. With many unfilled build slots in the first quarter, truckers do not need to line up to make sure that they get a desirable build slot. For more information, contact Eric Starks at (888) 988-1699 or go to www.ftrintel.com/hdt. Spot Freight: For the ffth consecutive month, spot freight availability in November continued to outpace levels seen in recent years, during a time when volume typically declines. Month-over-month, freight availability fell 9.5%, the result of four fewer business days in November versus October. Average daily freight volume during the month exceeded October's volume by 10%. On a year-overyear basis, freight volume increased 8%. Spot Freight Index (Information provided by TransCore's DAT services) 2000 Index: August 1996 = 100 PHOTO: SVEN-ERIK LINDSTRAND New Truck Order Activity 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 C) AN EB AR PR AY UNE ULY UG EP CT OV EC S O D A M N J F M A J J (DE 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 www.truckinginfo.co www.truckinginfo.com