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Clas 8 sales in July rose by 31.5 percent to 12,609 units. This was an increase from the 9,589 units that were sold in July last year.

According to trade publication Transport Topics, the number of heavy-duty U.S. retail trucks that have been sold this year as of June is 84,677 vehicles. This is a 43.9 percent increase from the 58,846 trucks that were sold at the same time in 2010.

Although the rate of sales had been around 20,000 a month towards the beginning of the year, July sales were expected to be less at about 18,000. In reality, sales were even lower than the predicted 18,000 trucks, but the numbers were still up from July of 2010.

As reported by ACT Research president Kenny Vieth, July is historically the weakest month of the year for Class 8 orders.

Freight factoring can be done in a variety of ways. To learn more about truck factoring, contact TBS Factoring LLC by calling 800-207-7661.

The seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index has fallen 1.3 percent in July, as reported by The American Trucking Association (ATA).

The decrease came after an increase of 2.6% in June. July saw a pre-seasonally adjusted index of 111, down 9 percent from June. This non seasonally adjusted index represents the actual change in tonnage that is hauled by the fleets.

In comparison to the same month a year ago, the June 2011 tonnage index was up 6.5 percent, but the tonnage index for July 2011 was only 3.9 percent higher. According to the Chief Economist for ATA, tonnage has fallen on a sequential basis over the last few months.

These tonnage index numbers can be attributed to the hurting economy. However, overall tonnage is increasing every year.

Freight factoring can be done in a variety of ways. To learn more about truck factoring, please contact TBS Factoring LLC by calling 800-207-7661.

FedEx Freight has announced a general rate increase, which will take effect September 6.

According to company officials, FedEx Freight, the less-than-truckload subsidiary of FedEx Corp., will implement a 6.75 percent general rate increase next month. The rate increase applies to all FedEx Freight shipments within the contiguous U.S. and Canada, and within Canada. The rate for cross-border FedEx fright shipments between the U.S. and Mexico will also increase 6.75 percent for only the U.S. portion of the shipment, and also will be effective September 6.

The rate increase applies to shipments covered by the FedEx Freight 1000 and FedEx Freight 501 series base rates. Accessorial charges will still apply.

The FedEx Freight fuel surcharge will remain unchanged, company officials said. One of the lowest in the LTL industry, the FedEx Freight fuel surcharge is at least 22 percent lower than the next six largest LTL carriers’ published fuel surcharge rates.

Freight factoring can be done in a variety of ways. To learn more about truck factoring, please contact TBS Factoring LLC by calling 800-207-7661.

A new survey indicates that 40 percent of trucking fleets are affected by driver shortage.

According to CK Commercial Vehicle Research’s Fleet Sentiment Report, 40 percent of fleets are affected by driver shortage and another 25 percent indicate they believe the shortage of good drivers will impact their ability to grow in the future. Of those reporting an immediate concern, 75 percent need drivers to fill current vacant seats. Nearly 63 percent say the driver shortage is limiting their ability to load capacity, and 42 percent are changing the way they deploy fleets and opting for more regional and local freight opportunities instead of long haul loads.

Founder of CK Commercial Vehicle Research Chris Kemmer said freight demand for the majority of the fleets that report to the firm is in good standing.

“Some could definitely haul more if they could find good drivers,” Kemmer said. “Even for those that have a full complement of drivers now there is concern that this scarce resource will likely impact their future growth potential.”

The third quarter Fleet Sentiment Buying Index, a measurement of fleets planning to place order for power units and trailers, rose to 104.3.

Freight factoring can be done a number of ways. To learn more, please contact TBS Factoring LLC by calling 800-207-7661.

Truck tonnage increased 2.8 percent in June, a new report states.

According to the American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, tonnage increased slightly in June after decreasing a revised 2.0 percent in May. May’s drop was slightly less than the 2.3 percent reported by the American Trucking Association. The latest gain puts the SA index up from the May level and the highest since January.

The non-seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by fleets, equaled 122.3 in June, which was 5.3 percent above the previous month. Compared with June 2010, SA tonnage increased 6.8 percent, which is the largest year-over-year gain since January 2011. In May, the tonnage index was 3 percent above that month the previous year.

“Motor carriers told us that freight was strong in June and that played out in the data as well,” said American Trucking Association Economist Bob Costello. “After growing 5.5 percent in the first half of the year from the same period last year, the strength of truck tonnage in the second half will depend greatly on what manufacturing output does.”

Trucking factoring can be done a number of ways. To learn more, please contact TBS Factoring LLC at 800-207-7661. 

The North American Class 8 backlog slid less than one percent in June.

According to ACT Research Co.’s latest issue of State of the Industry, the North American Class 8 backlog declined during June after increasing for nine consecutive months. This easing was the result of a second straight month of slower order activity – net orders came in at 21,266 units during June, without seasonal adjustment. June net orders were nine percent below May levels.

“Despite the slowing in new order activity over the last couple of months, it is important to note that the industry backlog continues to be very solid,” ACT president and senior analyst Kenny Vieth said. “Cancellations continue to be very low, an indication of the quality of the orders currently booked at the OEMs.”

ACT publishes commercial vehicle industry data, market analysis, and forecasting services for the North American market.

Truck factoring can be done a number of ways, please contact TBS Factoring LLC by calling 800-207-7661.

Consumers spent more on cars and in big chain stores in June, but gas prices held back retail sales.

According to the Commerce Department, retail sales in the United States rose only 0.1 percent last month. That follows a 0.1 percent decrease in May, which was the first time in 11 months that retail sales fell. Excluding automobiles, retail sales were stagnant in June.

As spring supply disruptions stemming from the Japan crisis were put to an end, auto sales increased 0.8 percent. Sales at general merchandise stores, such as Wal-Mart and Target, increased by 0.4 percent.

Falling gas prices pushed station sales down 1.3 percent. Consumers, however, are still paying nearly a dollar more for gas than they did a year ago. A rising unemployment rate has made many consumers more cautious about spending. The unemployment rate rose to 9.2 percent last month, the highest rate this year. The economy added just 18,000 in June, the fewest in nine months.

Analysts hope the economy will regain momentum in the second half of the year if gasoline prices moderate.

To learn more about trucking factoring, please contact TBS Factoring LLC by calling 800-207-7661.

UPS Freight announced a general rate increase averaging 6.9 percent in non-contractual shipments between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The nation’s fourth largest LTL carrier announced the rate increase Monday. It will take effect on August 1 and applies to minimum charge, LTL rates, and accessorial charges. The impact of the rate jump will vary based on specific shipment or lane characteristics, such as weight or class.

UPS Freight’s services include UPS World Ship and Quantum View Manage technology, designed to allow both small package and LTL freight customers to create bills of lading , schedule freight pickups, receive rate quotes, and easily track shipments. UPS Freight offers a full range of regional, interregional, and long-haul LTL and TL capabilities throughout North America, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and Mexico.

Freight factoring can be done a number of ways. For more information, please contact TBS Factoring LLC by calling 800-207-7661.

The amount of truck tonnage hauled by North American fleets decreased 2.3 percent in May.

Accoridng to the American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, truck tonnage fell by 2.3 percent in May after decreasing a revised 0.6 percent in April 2011. The latest drop puts the seasonally adjusted index at 112.3 in May, down from the April level of 114.9.

The non-seasonally adjusted index equaled 115.9 in May, which was two percent higher than the previous month. The non-seasonally adjusted index represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets without taking the season into account.

Compared with May 2010, seasonally adjusted tonnage climbed 2.7 percent, however this was the smallest year-over-year gain since February 2010.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said the trend in truck tonnage over the last four months “shows that the economy definitely hit a soft patch this spring.”

To learn more about truck factoring, please contact TBS Factoring LLC by calling 800-207-7661.

Net orders for Class 8 vehicles in North America continued to grow in May.

According to Americas Commercial Transportation Research Co., Class 8 orders in May were 77 percent above the same month last year. Though orders were fell to 23,300 from April, net orders in may were enough to fuel continued growth in industry backlog.

“Despite falling nearly 40 percent from April, May was nevertheless the eight consecutive month of strong Class 8 order activity,” said president and senior analyst at ACT Kenny Vieth. “It is worth noting April’s level of order intake was unsustainable, so the pullback in May’s order volume was anticipated.”

“Even though orders were less robust and industry build rates continued to grow, the Class 8 backlog grew for a ninth month straight in May,” Vieth said.

For more information on trucking factoring, please contact TBS Factoring LLC by calling 800-207-7661.