Transport Topics (February 5, 2021)
North American Class 8 orders are off to a stronger-than-expected start in 2021. ACT Research reported 42,200 in January — a 146% improvement from a year earlier. The January figure is a 17% dip from December, but still reflects competition for truck makers’ remaining build slots, according to ACT Vice President Steve Tam. His organization is expecting a 40% increase in production in 2021 compared with 2020. Tam told Transport Topics, “We as an industry need to recalibrate our expectations. Maybe we need to look higher.”