Trailer Orders Jump 12% In June

Photo: Stoughton

The final net trailer order numbers for the month of June have been published by FTR, showing a 12% increase from the previous month.

Net trailer orders totaled 18,900 units for the month, jumping 58% compared to June of last year. The June activity was above FTR's expectations with most segments of the market exceeding their May totals.

“The trailer market had a fantastic month in June. Production was the highest since July 2015,” said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles. “Orders did not fall all much from the respectable numbers posted in March and April. Backlogs are dropping, but that's due to the high build rates rather than lower orders.”

Trailer orders have totaled 261,000 units over the past 12 months. Production rose 5% over May, primarily in the dry and refrigerated van sector, reducing backlog by 6%.

“Medium and small fleets are ordering trailers as the spot freight market remains hot. Large fleets are taking delivery on orders placed months ago, as the expected stronger freight growth starts to happen,” said Ake. “Replacement demand for dry vans continues and flatbed demand has begun to take off. The trailer market continues to exceed expectations in 2017.”

Related: Trailers are Smarter Than Ever

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Truckstop.com Taps Perry as Chief Economist

Noël Perry Photo via FTR

FTR and Truckstop.com have announced that Noël Perry, a partner at FTR, will lead the economic analysis for Truckstop.com, assuming the role of chief economist for the load board and technology company.

Perry specializes in risk analysis in the transportation market and focuses on the underlying fundamentals of transport demand, operations, and competition. He will continue his industry analysis with FTR as one of its experts on transportation economics and as lead author of FTR's State of Freight Insights.

“The expanded relationship between FTR and Truckstop.com opens the door for even further insights into how trucking is evolving,” said Eric Starks, CEO of FTR. “This expanded partnership will give all of us, including those in the freight marketplace, a better understanding of how the dynamic relationship between supply and demand is affecting pricing and profitability.”

FTR and Truckstop.com have partnered to provide spot market analysis through Trans4Cast.com, which provides insights on spot market conditions, including rates, market pressure, and historical trending for freight transportation professionals.

Related: FTR: The Economics of 33' Trailers Only Benefit a Few Markets

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Seesaw pattern for truck tonnage continues

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) for-hire truck tonnage index dropped 4.3% in June, following a 6.9% gain during May, though tonnage was up 1.3% when compared to June of 2016.

Year-to-date, compared with the first half of 2016, the trade group said its tonnage index is up 1%. ATA also noted it revised its May tonnage increase upwards from 6.5% to 6.9%.

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Prestolite’s Isolated Ground Technology Protects Engines from Stray Voltage

Prestolite Electric has announced its use of Isolated Ground Technology in its line of IdlePro and IdlePro Extreme alternators, designed to protect engines from potentially severe electrolytic damage caused by stray voltage.

Isolated Ground technology helps to prevent overall associated component failure and vehicle downtime, according to Prestolite. It includes a dedicated cable that directs the electric current from the battery to the alternator and a second dedicated electrical cable that directs the electric current from the alternator back to the battery.

“As original equipment manufacturers push to reduce stray electrical current or ground noise flowing through the engine to prevent premature engine failures and related component failures, this latest technology from Prestolite Electric ensures industry-best performance,” said Nick Laenen, vice president, North America, South America, Australia sales and marketing, Prestolite Electric. “Isolated Ground Technology maintains a closed loop of electric current, reducing both the alternator's electronic noise signature and preventing stray electrical currents grounding through the engine block or its related parts.”

Common alternator designs allow the case of the alternator to be part of the electrical circuit. When an alternator is anchored to the engine electric current can then travel through or along the engine, increasing the opportunity for engine electrolysis or electronic noise interfering with other electronic equipment on the engine or vehicle. In today's modern engines, the added electronic noise can trip ghost error codes – necessitating a service incident and diagnostic troubleshooting.

The Leece-Neville IdlePro and IdlePro Extreme high-efficiency/high-output alternators include Isolated Ground and an array of other exclusive technologies that help extend battery life and increase vehicle uptime by enhancing electrical system and engine performance. The company plans to add the feature to the Leece-Neville PowerPro and PowerPro Extreme series high-torque starters in the near future.

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Bike Hotspot Helps Reduce Accidents with Cyclists

Sentinel Systems are offering a new warning sign to its system called the Bike Hotspot, designed to reduce the number of accidents involving cyclists and commercial vehicles.

The Bike Hotspot uses LED lights to give cyclists approaching from the rear of a vehicle a clear warning that the vehicle is about to turn left. The LED Cycle Sign can be fitted along with the Bike Hotspot system to the rear of the nearside of the vehicle or as a standalone product.

The Bike Hotspot system works by fitting sensors on the nearside of the vehicle and the sign will activate at speeds lower than 10 miles per hour. The sensors are linked to a choice of alarm, including in cab sounds, LED lights and external speakers that warn cyclists to move away from the vehicle. Installing the sign onto vehicles will give cyclists a visual indication that the vehicle is about to maneuver, giving them time to stay out of the way of any potential harm.

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Delay for ELD mandate? Leading transportation attorney says not likely

Hours after a House committee passed a measure requiring additional study on the pending electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, a leading transportation attorney downplayed the chances of a major overhaul.

Included in a Department of Transportation fiscal 2018 funding bill passed July 17 by the House Appropriations Committee was language requiring a closer look “whether a full or targeted delay in ELD implementation and enforcement would be appropriate.”

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E-Zoil Offers Glass Cleaning Solution

Glass Glitz is a new glass cleaner from E-Zoil, formulated to be streak-free and able to dissolve film, light to heavy soils, fingerprints, bugs and other difficult to remove items.

The cleaner is made for cleaning vertical surfaces because it thickens when shaken to grip the glass and not run. Glass Glitz also contains an odor neutralizer designed to kill odors.

Available in a 32-ounce bottle, Glass Glitz won't evaporate on hot surfaces and is ammonia-free. All E-Zoil performance cleaners are designed for tough cleaning jobs and are safe for the environment when used as directed, according to the company.

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