As 2019 progressed, economic growth slowed and there were more downside pressures than upside. In Q4, the commercial vehicle market abruptly turned south due to the great amount of uncertainty regarding the economy. Businesses abhor uncertainty because it makes planning difficult and greatly increases the risks of new investment. As a result, trucking fleets… Read More »
The current state of the Class 8 truck market has fleets carefully evaluating their truck needs for the next few months and placing orders for delivery within that timeframe. OEMs can easily schedule production to deliver on time and suppliers are having few problems keeping pace. The Class 8 market is currently operating as a… Read More »
You could make a movie out of the dramatic Class 8 market in 2019. But it would be a terrible movie. And a movie we have watched before. It Was the Best of Times The movie begins with great joy in the industry. The freight surge in 2018 creates unprecedented demand for trucks (not… Read More »
I regret to inform you that we are involved in a trade war. I regret it, because months ago I told my colleagues to calm down, proclaiming there would be no trade war. I believed that both China and the U.S. realized that a trade war would be too damaging to both countries and, therefore,… Read More »
The U.S. economy is setting a record this month for achieving the longest period of growth in its history. The economy has been growing for 121 months, breaking the previous streak from the 1990s. This doesn’t surprise me. Everything about this recovery has been unusual, so the fact that it is unusually long is par… Read More »
In the early 90’s, the Clinton administration provided trade benefits to China. There was strong criticism against these moves based on China’s human rights violations. However, President Clinton argued that expanding trade would lead to better relations with the Chinese and eventually better conditions for the Chinese people. As trade with China increased, the Clinton… Read More »
Imagine you are in a crowd of people cheering on a runner in a long-distance race. Your contestant is running at a hearty pace and is winning. But then you notice their speed has slowed some. The athlete is still running at a steady pace, and is still winning, but just not by as much.… Read More »
Brick and mortar are dead … In 2016, demolition of Rolling Acres Mall began. The mall opened in 1975 on 260 acres on the southwest side of Akron, Ohio. In its heyday, it featured 140 stores on two levels,1.3 million square feet of retail space, and 7,500 parking spots. However, the mall’s demise began long… Read More »
The question I get asked the most by people inside, and outside, the industry is: When will there be driverless trucks on the highways? This, of course, is a difficult question because it not only involves adaptation to technology, but a host of other complicated factors as well. But my answer is this: You will… Read More »
Why the last mile is such a big deal… Think about a common, small-ticket item which you hate to purchase. A good example for me are windshield wipers, and, on a recent rainy drive to Pennsylvania, I realized it was time to change my blades. The usual buying process for the product is as follows:… Read More »