Trends & Headlines
Freight & Commercial Vehicle Market Trends & Headlines
ACT Research is regularly featured by industry and business media for analysis on freight markets, Class 8 truck orders, commercial vehicle demand, used truck values, trailer activity, freight rates, regulation, powertrain change, and transportation market cycles. Explore recent interviews, podcast appearances, articles, and media coverage featuring ACT analysts and market intelligence.
Learn MoreAudio Interviews
May 2026
The Fleet Lead: The 11th Hour: Vanishing Truck Slots and the Return of the Driver Shortage
April 2026
Truck fleet, capacity, rates & outlook - The Intermodal Logistics Podcast
February 2026
Market Pulse: Trucking's (many) risks and uncertainties in 2026
February 2026
Market Pulse: Class 8 orders finally up—Are carriers feeling better?
February 2026
Element Three - Steve Tam of ACT Research
December 2025
DAT iQ Live w/ Tim Denoyer: Ep. 366
November 2025
Trucking With OOIDA - Everything’s “Okay-ish”: Looking for Silver Linings on the Freight Market
November 2025
Fetch Freight - Freight Forecast: Planning for 2026
September 2025
Market Pulse: Heavy-duty truck demand is low, OEMs cutting production
September 2025
Tracking truckload (from IANA EXPO) - The Intermodal Logistics Podcast
September 2025
Market Pulse: New truck demand is dropping; used truck prices are rising
September 2025
Market Pulse: Where's the electric truck market headed now?
September 2025
Market Pulse: For-hire trucking's overcapacity problem—and its eventual solution
August 2025
Market Pulse: When will freight demand finally improve?
August 2025
Market Pulse: Analyst's outlook for tariffs: hurting what trucks haul
July 2025
Market Pulse: How the truck market is reacting to today's freight
April 2025
Navigating economic uncertainty in trucking amid Trump tariffs: Market Pulse with ACT Research
April 2025
Market Pulse: Trump’s regulatory timeline shifts trucking focus
February 2025
Market Pulse: Navigating 2025’s early used truck market amid tariffs and uncertainty
January 2025
Trump's emissions impact: Talking regulations on Market Pulse with ACT Research and FleetOwner
December 2024
FleetOwner Market Pulse with ACT Research: A look back and ahead from 2024 to 2025
DAT iQ Live
DAT iQ Market Update with Tim Denoyer: Ep. 320
August 2024
FleetOwner Market Pulse with ACT Research: What does a Fed cut mean for trucking?
Optym - Episode 26
Research's role in trucking | Tim Denoyer of ACT Research
July 2024
FleetOwner Market Pulse with ACT Research
DAT iQ Live
DAT's Data Analytics team examines current freight market conditions: Ep. 300
June 2026 Coverage
- May Class 8 Orders Rise 103% Year-Over-Year
- ACT: Class 8 orders up 12% in May
- ACT Research: Preliminary Net Trailer Order Activity Counter to Traditional Cycle in May
- Used Class 8 retail sales fall 13% in May: ACT Research
- ACT: Preliminary net trailer orders up in May
- ACT: Used truck market loses ground in May
- Trailer Orders Increase Against Seasonal Expectations
- ACT Research Plans 75th Market Vitals Seminar
- Buyer Reluctance Keeps Medium-Duty Truck Sales Down
- Class 8 orders up 100+% year over year
- ACT Research: New Equipment Demand Remains Supported by Freight Rates and Regulatory Clarity
- April 2026 Class 8 Orders Ease as Seasonal Slowdown Begins
- ACT: New equipment demand remains supported by freight rates and regulatory clarity
- April For-Hire Trucking Index Shows Supply-Driven Tightening
- ACT Research: FMCSA Rules Tighten Capacity; Truckload Spot Rates Rise 30%
- April 2026 Trailer Orders Rise 126% Y/Y, ACT Research Reports
- ACT Research Data Shows Retail Sales Pull Back After March Performance
- ACT Research: Preliminary Classes 5-8 Net Orders for May
- ACT: Class 8 orders up 103% y/y in May
- Driver Supply, Rates Help Lift Class 8 Order Activity
- Used Truck Market Shows Stability Despite Mixed Signals
- Despite a slight decline in sales, used truck prices are rising.
- ACT Research: Used Truck Sales Declined While Prices Improved in April
Previous Month's Coverage
ACT Research: Improving Fleet Volumes Likely the Result of Reduced Industry Capacity
ACT Research Marks 40 Years with Industry Outlook Seminar Focused on Trucking Trends Through 2029
ACT: Used Class 8 prices rise despite April sales dip
April freight report: Spot market rates on the rise, capacity tightening
ACT: Used truck sales decline in April
Class 8 orders see 24% seasonal decline
ACT: Supply and demand balance tightens in April
ACT Research: Improving Fleet Volumes are Likely the Result of Reduced Industry Capacity
ACT to celebrate 40 years at Market Vitals seminar in August
ACT Research: April Class 8 Orders Totaled 25K Units
ACT Research states that tighter capacity is driving the rise in the cash market.
ACT: Class 8 orders down 24% in April
ACT to celebrate 40 years at its 75th Market Vitals Seminar
Anaylsts: Trailer demand remains strong in April
Trailer orders improving, backlogs remain a concern, analysts say
North American Heavy-Duty Truck Net Orders Post Year-over-Year Gain
ACT Research says tightening capacity is driving spot market surge
ACT Research: Trailer Orders Better in April, but Caution Remains
Medium-Duty Truck Sales Fall 18.5% in April
ACT Research: Preliminary Net Trailer Order Activity Continued to Surprise in April
ACT: Used truck sales pull back in April
ACT: Preliminary net trailer order activity continues to surprise in April
ACT: April trailer orders improve, but caution remains
ACT Research: A supply-driven freight cycle
ACT Research: Used Truck Market is Holding its Own
ACT Research: Trailer Orders Continue Upward Surprise in April
Class 8 Truck Sales Decline 11.8% as Fleets Delay Purchases
Preliminary trailer orders continue to surprise in April, according to ACT Research
Significant increase in trailer orders in April
Retail sales of used trucks: better than expected in April
ACT: Improved spot and contract rates drive Class 8 orders
ACT Research: Tightening Driver Capacity and Regulatory Clarity Support Class 8 Orders
Driver shortage reemerges as fleets face fewer than 20,000 build slots for 2026
Class 8 truck sales improve in April ahead of the seasonal slowdown period
The carrier's market truckers have been waiting for
ACT: Preliminary Classes 5-8 net orders up 201% y/y in April
Trailers orders close Q1 with surge
North American heavy-duty truck orders surged in April - ACT Research
Used Truck Sales Rise 10% in March, Miss Seasonal Forecast
ACT Research: Used truck sales strength continued in March
Used Class 8 truck sales in US rise again in March: ACT
Driver Shortage Hits U.S. Trucking Industry, Raising Freight Rates
March used truck market shows strength as volume and prices climb
ACT Research: March 2026 Class 8 Orders Reach 38,050 Units
ACT: For-Hire Index emphasizes supply-driven freight recovery
Did someone say driver shortage? ACT says tightening capacity is back
ACT Research: Driver shortage begins
Driver shortages and rising transportation rates in the United States
March N.A. Class 8 orders up 131%
ACT: Trailer industry still mired in challenging market environment
US Trailer Orders Defy Seasonal Slowdown With March Gain
ACT: March Class 8 orders strengthen
March Class 8 orders march on with 38,000 units tallied
U.S. Trailer Orders Defy Seasonal Slowdown With March Gain
Trailer orders jumped 42% in March
ACT: Preliminary net trailer orders see surprise hike in March
A very good month of March for used truck sales.
US Class 8 Retail Sales Fall 20% in March
ACT: Used truck sales grow stronger, values hold the line
ACT: Used truck sales strengthen in March as values maintain
US trailer market headwinds enter 2026
Tightening capacity, reduced regs spurring Class 8 market strength
Class 8 Orders Surge More Than 100% for Second Straight Month
Freight Cycle Gains Momentum as Diesel Prices Tighten Capacity
ACT: Preliminary March Class 8 orders up 126% y/y
OPINION | EDITORIAL: Econ 101: Keep on trucking
ACT: Freight cycle finding a higher gear
ACT: February used truck sales exceed seasonal expectations
Final February used data trends positive
ACT Research: Rising Diesel Costs Tighten Freight Capacity, Lift Rates
ACT Research: February Used Truck Sales Exceeded Seasonal Expectations
ACT Research: For-Hire Supply-Demand Balance Hit 4.5-Year High in February
ACT: Trucking Volumes Rise, Capacity Tightens as Fuel Prices Cloud Outlook
ACT: For-hire supply-demand balance hits 4.5-year high in February
ACT: Trailer industry backlogs fall in February
February Class 8 orders up a whopping 157%
February Class 8 Orders Totaled 46.4K Units, ACT Research
ACT: Final Class 8 orders up 157% y/y in February
Class 8 Order Activity 2026 Shows Early Signs of Recovery
ACT: Preliminary used truck sales up 24% in February
ACT Research: Preliminary Net Trailer Order Activity Met Lower Expectations in February
ACT: Preliminary net trailer orders down 43% in February
ACT Research: Used Truck Buyers Thaw as Spring Looms
Trailer orders plummeted in February
156% Y/Y Rise in February ’26 Class 8 Orders, According to ACT Research Data
ACT Research: Recent Class 8 Data Suggest Optimism is Growing for 2026
Q2 Reefer & Perishable Forecast 2026
ACT Research: For-Hire Volume Declines Outweighed Capacity Contractions in January
February Class 8 Orders Surge 156% From Prior Year
ACT: Class 8 orders spur growing optimism for 2026
ACT sees growing optimsm in Class 8 order data
For-Hire Volume Declines Outweighed Capacity Contractions in January
Freight Rates Spike as Weather and Capacity Tighten Truckload Market
ACT Research: Preliminary Classes 5-8 Net Orders for February
ACT: Challenges remain for U.S. trailer industry
ACT: Preliminary February Class 8 orders up 156% y/y
Used Truck Sales Gain Ground During Typically Weak January
ACT Research: Trailer Orders Strong in January
ACT Research: Demand Steady, But Used Class 8 Market Down 5% M/M
ACT Research: January Used Truck Sales Returned to Sequential Decline
January Sees 12% Drop in Class 8 Used Truck Sales, ACT Research Reports
ACT Research: Challenges Remain for Trailer Industry Despite Recent Data Uptick
ACT Research: Truckload Cycle Finding a Higher Gear
North American Heavy Truck Orders Surge in February - ACT Research
Got questions? We have answers.
Check on the Knowledge Center to learn everything you could ever want to know about our Databases, Reports, and more.