Trucks, trailers, tonnage: What transport data says about the state of the industry

Class 8 truck orders point to confidence in the market and the need to scale up capacity in anticipation of freight demand. Fleets buy trucks to replace the older models in their inventory, or to aid expansion.

Preliminary estimates of Class 8 orders reached 42,800 in the first month of 2021, a dip from December but the fourth-consecutive month with orders above 40,000, FTR said.

Supply chain issues, including material shortages and port delays, are hampering Class 8 suppliers. As a result, supply will be unable to meet Class 8 demand in the short term, according to FTR.