Commentary: The Heady Pace of Technology

Deborah Lockridge

As I write this at the end of September, it's been a dizzying month of technology advances. We're talking a stream of amazing stuff straight out of a science fiction story.

The IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Germany, for instance, highlighted what in Europe they call “digitization,” along with electric mobility and urban logistics, under the banner of “New Mobility World Logistics.” There were electric vans and autonomous trucks. Heads-up windshield displays with virtual side-view mirrors. Systems that can back up a truck to the dock without a driver at the wheel. Concept urban vehicles with delivery drones and robots and self-loading systems. (We'll have more on what we saw at IAA in next month's issue.)

On the plane trip home, I read a column in the International New York Times suggesting that presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton talk in their first debate about what they're going to do about self-driving trucks.

Then Reuters published an article about Uber's plans to transform the trucking industry, on the heels of its purchase of autonomous truck tech startup Otto. And UPS staged a test using a drone to deliver medication in a hard-to-reach location.

This is all after the Department of Transportation published its first set of guidelines for the development and regulation of autonomous vehicles.

Navistar and Volvo both unveiled their SuperTruck concept trucks, achieving 12 and 13 mpg. The North American Council on Freight Efficiency released a report on two-truck platooning's potential for fuel savings.

And it's not just technology on the truck itself. The TMW/PeopleNet In.Sight conference highlighted how information technology, telematics, the Internet of Things and Big Data can transform the way the transportation industry works, keep the driver connected, and help fleets make better decisions both in real time and for long term strategies.

At FTR's annual conference, along ...Read the rest of this story

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Monthly Trailer Orders Projected at One-Third of Last Year’s Levels

ACT Research released its preliminary U.S. net trailer orders data for September 2016, showing a decline from the previous month and weaker than anticipated order pace.

Trailer orders are expected to reach 12,950 units for the month once ACT finalizes its numbers, reflecting a drop of 16% from August. September is a month where trailer order activity historically increases significantly. Based on ACT's numbers, order activity is at one-third of last year's levels.

“An extremely strong September 2015 set a very high bar for year-over-year comparison; this estimate shows September volume approximately 65% below the same month last year,” said Frank Maly, ACT's director of commercial vehicle transportation analysis and research. “It is apparent that the 2016/17 trailer order season has stumbled out of the gates to a very slow start.”

ACT believes that this lower order activity is representative of the caution fleets expressed regarding equipment investment in this order cycle. In a small concession, cancellation rates were easing compared to recent months but were still higher than in the same period of 2015.

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Kenworth, Peterbilt Return to MATS for 2017

With OEs absent, considerble space in the south end of the long South Wing sat empty at MATS 2016. But the rest of this hall and all the others were occupied. Photo: Tom Berg

After a year where none of the major Class 8 OEMs exhibited at the Mid-America Trucking Show, Kenworth and Peterbilt announced they will return to the show for 2017.

Kenworth plans to showcase its T680 Advantage with new fuel-savings options for 2017, as well as the T880 and T880S vocational models. The company will also exhibit its latest technologies such as Kenworth TruckTech+, Power Management with Auto Start and Stop capability and the Nav+ HD for drivers.

“Kenworth is excited to be a part of the 2017 Mid-America Trucking Show,” said Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice president. “It provides an outstanding venue to meet with and thank our customers, while also displaying our industry-leading products and technologies that are focused on supporting the needs of their businesses, as well as the comfort, safety and productivity of the driver.”

Peterbilt says it will have a significant presence at the show. Its exhibit will include the Model 579 Epiq's latest fuel economy enhancements and a new day cab configuration. The exhibit will also show the company's latest technologies, such as the SmartLinq remote diagnostics, and it will include a display for the Red Oval pre-owned truck program.

“The Mid-America Trucking Show allows Peterbilt to spend quality time with customers and drivers while exhibiting our latest offerings,” said Darrin Siver, Peterbilt general manager and Paccar vice president. “MATS is an outstanding venue for Peterbilt to thank the industry and interact with the many men and women who own, operate or are champions of our products.”

Peterbilt's Innovation and Class tour trailer will be located outside of ...Read the rest of this story

Used Truck Volumes Increase at Auctions

A summer lull in used commercial vehicle auction volume ended this past September. Analysis points to a jump in activity levels not seen since this past spring, according to findings in NADA Used Car Guide's recent Commercial Truck Guidelines report.

In spite of the increase in wholesale auction volume, prices were not notably impacted for the month.

"Our benchmark model went for the same amount of money as last month for most model-years," said Chris Visser, senior commercial truck analyst at NADA Used Car Guide. "Overall, depreciation in the auction lanes remained mild to moderate, with late-model trucks averaging about 2.6% depreciation per month. That is substantially better than the 5% depreciation per month seen last year, although absolute prices are down more than 30% over last year."

Within the retail market, prices continued to outperform expectations for the month according to the monthly report. Depreciation was very mild for the second month in a row, with no notable month-over-month depreciation for most models.

In addition to a strong retail price performance, retail sales volume outperformed its forecast as well. Volume in August posted the best result since May of 2015. The report points out lower prices may be responsible for moving more units.

Buyers are entering the market in greater numbers as prices continue to relax to attractive levels, according to the report. As the domestic economy — in general — continues to show incremental upward growth, it is possible that the biggest hits to values are likely behind the market for the remainder of the year.

Check out the NADA video update below:

Related: Used Truck Sales See Late Summer Surge

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