HDDA Segment News
May Truck Tonnage Falls 11 Percent, Month-to-Month Level Rises
May Class 8 Truck Sales Drop 39 Percent
Sales of Big Trucks Fall in April
Truck Tonnage Index Falls Again, to Lowest Since 2001
Truck Tonnage Drops 12.2 Percent in March
March Truck Sales Fall 21 Percent
Big-Truck Sales Fall 35.5 Percent in February
ATA Truck Tonnage Index Rose 1.7 Percent in February
January Truck Tonnage Falls 10.8 Percent
HDAW '09 Announces Awards Categories and Sponsors for HDAW Awards Luncheon
December Truck Sales Fall 10.9 Percent
ATA Tonnage Index Plummets 11 Percent
HDDA Members Asked to Complete HDAW '09 Education Survey, All Members Urged to Attend Conference
November Class 4-8 Sales Slip Again, But Class 8 Levels Off
HDDA Remembers Industry Leader Dick Bell Who Died This Week
07/02/09
May Truck Tonnage Falls 11 Percent, Month-to-Month Level Rises
Truck tonnage decreased 11 percent in May compared with a year ago, but increased from April, American Trucking Associations (ATA) said late last week.
The decline in the for-hire seasonally adjusted truck tonnage index left tonnage at a reading of 102.3. Even though the decrease was smaller than April’s 13.2 percent year-over-year decline, May’s decrease is still “historically large,” ATA said.
The index rose 3.2 percent from April, the first month-to-month increase since February, ATA said. Without accounting for seasonal adjustment, the index gained 0.4 percent from April, but the improvement was not enough to offset the 6.7 percent cumulative reduction from March and April.
ATA chief economist Bob Costello said that though the monthly increase was encouraging, tonnage will not likely see a surge anytime soon.
ATA calculates the tonnage each month based on reports by its member trucking companies.
Source: Transport Topics, June 29, 2009
06/25/09
May Class 8 Truck Sales Drop 39 Percent
Heavy-duty U.S. truck sales continued their severe slide into a fifth month, as retail volume fell 39 percent in May, while the year-to-date total now lags the pace of last year by 33.9 percent, according to WardsAuto.com.
And manufacturer order boards for new trucks remain lightly populated, essentially killing off a once-commonly held theory that there might be a small-scale pre-buy ahead of the Jan. 1 change in federal emission rules.
Separately, ACT Research Co., Columbus, Ind., said June 15 that an analysis of orders and other factors led it to predict that heavy-duty truck sales would fall 43 percent this year from their 2008 level. While the company predicted some growth in 2010, ACT researchers estimated sales next year also would fall below 2008, which was generally considered a poor year, with Ward’s reporting 133,473 Class 8 trucks sold.
Original equipment manufacturers and their dealers sold 6,955 Class 8 vehicles in May, down from 11,400 in May 2008. For the first five months this year, sales have totaled 35,451 trucks, down from 53,631 last year, Ward’s said in its June 10 survey.
Source: Transport Topics, June 22, 2009
06/04/09
Sales of Big Trucks Fall in April
Sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the United States in April fell at their fastest rate of the year, dropping 44.5 percent from a year earlier to 17,612. That came on top of a 13.1 percent fall in April 2008.
Through April, truck sales have tumbled 37.0 percent to 70,635.
Medium- and heavy-duty truck sales have dropped every month since January 2007.
Class 4 medium-duty trucks dropped the least, skidding 31.6 percent to 4,116. Class 5 trucks slid 59.6 percent to 1,806.
Class 6 trucks plunged 49.8 percent to 1,957, and Class 7 trucks fell 42.7 percent to 3,069. Sales of the largest trucks, Class 8, fell 44.4 percent to 6,664.
International's sales dropped less than those of its rivals, making it the No. 1 brand for the month. International's sales slumped 31.1 percent to 4,440.
No. 2 Ford Motor Co.'s sales slid 32.7 percent to 4,352. No. 3 Freightliner's sales tumbled 49.7 percent to 3,042.
Kenworth, at No. 4, was the only other brand to sell more than 1,000 trucks. Its sales declined 47.2 percent to 1,011. No. 5 Peterbilt's sales skidded 51.8 percent to 990.
Source: Truckinginfo.com, June 2, 2009
05/28/09
Truck Tonnage Index Falls Again, to Lowest Since 2001
The American Trucking Associations' (ATA) advance seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index fell 2.2 percent in April, after plunging 4.5 percent in March.
April marked the second sequential decrease. In April, the seasonally adjusted tonnage index equaled just 99.2 (2000 = 100), its lowest level since November 2001.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, was down 2.9 percent from March, to 101.6.
Compared with April 2008, tonnage contracted 13.2 percent, which was the worst year-over-year decrease of the current cycle and the largest drop in 13 years. In March 2009, tonnage dropped 12.2 percent from a year earlier.
ATA chief economist Bob Costello said truck tonnage is getting hit from both the recession and the massive inventory correction that the supply chain is currently undergoing. Costello added that truck freight has yet to hit bottom and it could be a few more months before this occurs.
Source: Truckinginfo.com, May 27, 2009
04/30/09
Truck Tonnage Drops 12.2 Percent in March
Truck tonnage decreased 12.2 percent in March compared with a year ago, falling to the lowest level since March 2002, American Trucking Associations (ATA) said earlier this week.
The decline in the group’s for-hire seasonally adjusted truck tonnage index was the second-worst year-over-year decrease of the current cycle.
The index fell 4.5 percent from the previous month, erasing the 4.5 percent increase it had made in the two months prior.
ATA chief economist Bob Costello said he wasn’t too surprised about the March index.
Without seasonal adjustment, the index increased 10.2 percent, but that increase is smaller than the 15 percent to 20 percent increase usually seen from February to March.
Source: Transport Topics, April 28, 2009
04/28/09
March Truck Sales Fall 21 Percent
Heavy-duty truck sales rebounded in March from historic lows the previous two months but were still 21.1 percent below the results in the same month of 2008.
For the entire first quarter of the year, Class 8 U.S. retail volumes lagged behind 2008’s pace by 27.8 percent, according to the latest survey from WardsAuto.com.
Dealers reported a higher level of customer interest in their heavy-duty vehicles in March, as compared with medium-duty models, but the number of actual buyers remains negligible.
For the month, original equipment manufacturers sold 8,222 Class 8s, down from 10,419 in March 2008. The first-quarter total of 21,832 units was down from 30,248 a year ago, with all eight major brands posting volume losses for both the month and the quarter.
Tractor sales increased modestly from June through December, but then fell dramatically during the year’s first two months. January sales of 7,374 were the worst since January 1992, and the February mark of 6,236 was the worst since February 1983.
March’s volume was similar to the first three months of 2003, when sales were in retreat after the October 2002 tightening of federal diesel engine emission standards.
Mack Trucks had the worst monthly results, according to the Ward’s report, losing 55.6 percent of last March’s sales, falling to 436 units from 982. The company’s quarterly volume fell 47.4 percent.
Source: Transport Topics, April 20, 2009
04/14/09
Big-Truck Sales Fall 35.5 Percent in February
U.S. sales of medium-and heavy-duty trucks dropped 35.5 percent in February from a year earlier to 16,138 units, continuing a sales skid that began in February 2007.
For the first two months, sales of the trucks fell by the same 35.5 percent, to 33,252.
Sales plummeted at a double-digit pace in every category.
Class 8 trucks dropped 39.0 percent in February to 6,236. Class 8 sales were up from June through December 2008, then decreased 23.2 percent in January.
In other size categories, from medium-duty on up for February, Class 4 sales fell 21.9 percent to 3,101; Class 5 sales declined 44.2 percent to 1,739; Class 6 sales stumbled 50.8 percent to 1,790; and Class 7 sales skidded 19.6 percent to 3,272.
International led all brands' sales with 3,827, despite falling 23.4 percent. Ford was No. 2, dropping 32.9 percent to 3,219.
Freightliner fell to third from first a year earlier on a 42.4 percent slide in sales to 3,008.
Source: Truckinginfo.com, April 7, 2009
03/26/09
ATA Truck Tonnage Index Rose 1.7 Percent in February
The American Trucking Associations' (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index edged 1.7 percent higher in February 2009, marking the second consecutive month-to-month increase.
Still, the gain over the past two months, totaling 4.8 percent, did not even erase the 7.8 percent contraction in December 2008. In February, the seasonally adjusted tonnage index equaled just 106.5 (2000 = 100), which is still extremely low, ATA warns. Also in February, the fleets reported lower volumes than in January, as the not seasonally adjusted index fell another 2 percent last month on top of January's 4.4 percent drop. In February, the not seasonally adjusted index equaled 95.3. Compared with February 2008, tonnage contracted 9.2 percent, which was the third-worst year-over-year decrease of the current cycle.
ATA chief economist Bob Costello said he is very cautious about reading too much into February's seasonally adjusted month-to-month improvement. Costello also noted that fleets are still witnessing a tough environment and there is nothing that suggests freight volumes are about to embark on a sustained recovery.
ATA noted on the impact of trucking company failures on the index: "Each month, ATA asks its membership the amount of tonnage each carrier hauled, including all types of freight. The indexes are calculated based on those responses. The sample includes an array of trucking companies, ranging from small fleets to multi-billion dollar carriers. When a company in the sample fails, we include its final month of operation and zero it out for the following month. This assumes the remaining carriers pick up that freight. As a result, it is close to a net wash and does not end up in a false increase. Nevertheless, some carriers are picking up freight from failures, and it may have boosted the index. Due to our correction mentioned above, however, it should be limited," the association said.
Source: Truckinginfo.com, March 26, 2009
03/03/09
January Truck Tonnage Falls 10.8 Percent
Truck tonnage fell 10.8 percent in January from the same month last year, but rose 3 percent from the prior month, American Trucking Associations (ATA) said last week.
The decline in the group’s for-hire seasonally adjusted truck tonnage index marked the fourth straight year-over-year decline, following 11 straight increases.
The tonnage index gained 3 percent from December’s level, marking only the second month-to-month increase in the last seven months, ATA said. The index was the second-lowest of any month since October 2002.
“Tonnage will not fall every month, and just because it rises every now and then doesn’t mean the economy is on the mend,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello. He predicted that any sustained recovery in truck tonnage is likely months away.
Source: Transport Topics, March 2, 2009
02/05/09
HDAW '09 Announces Awards Categories and Sponsors for HDAW Awards Luncheon
The organizers of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) have announced the categories and sponsors of the awards presented at the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
- Top 5 Products, awarded by Newport Communications/Heavy Duty Trucking
- Distributor of the Year, awarded by Truck Parts and Service Magazine
- Technician of the Year, awarded by SKF/Bendix/Haldex/Dayton/MAHLE
- HD Hall of Fame Award, awarded by R. L. Polk & Co.
“HDAW is a conference developed to bring together the best that the industry has to offer,” said HDAW '09 co-chair Marc Karon, Total Truck Parts. “The week wraps up with a luncheon honoring the best of the best with the HD Aftermarket Industry Awards Luncheon.”
“We are indeed proud of everyone in our industry and are compelled to recognize greatness, outstanding performance and the legends of the HD aftermarket,” said HDAW '09 co-chair Joe McAleese, Bendix CVS. “It will be an excellent time to honor great companies, products and individuals that have contributed to the success and image of the distributors and suppliers.”
HDAW '09 will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Feb. 16 through Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009. For more information on HDAW, visit www.hdaw.org or contact W.T. Glasgow, conference management, at 708-226-1300.
December Truck Sales Fall 10.9 Percent
U.S. sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks dropped 10.9 percent in December from a year earlier to 27,034 units.
In 2008, sales of Class 4-8 trucks plummeted 18.9 percent to 323,396. That was the lowest level since 302,987 in 1993, and well off the peak of 581,194 in 2006.
Sales of Class 4-8 trucks have decreased every month starting in February 2007.
In December, sales of Class 8 trucks rose 5.9 percent to 12,747. Class 8 truck sales increased every month starting in June 2008. But steep sales drops in the first five months of 2008 left Class 8 sales for the full year down 11.6 percent to 133,473.
Sales in all other categories plunged by double-digit percentages, both in December from December 2007 and in all of 2008.
In December, Class 4 sales skidded 13.5 percent to 5,033, Class fell 21.9 percent to 3,138, Class 6 dropped 21.7 percent to 2,740, and Class 7 collapsed 32.1 percent to 3,376.
For all of 2008, Class 4 sales slid 22.2 percent to 61,346, Class 5 dipped 10.3 percent to 40,300, Class 6 dropped 26.8 percent to 39,397, and Class 7 fell 30.6 percent to 48,880.
Ford Motor Co. held onto its top rank among truck maker brands by a whisker. Ford's 2008 U.S. sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks fell 27.1 percent to 68,532. That left it just 1,111 units ahead of the No. 2 truck maker, International, whose sales dropped 3.6 percent to 67,421.
Source: Truckinginfo.com, Feb. 3, 2009
01/29/09
ATA Tonnage Index Plummets 11 Percent
The American Trucking Associations' (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index plunged 11.1 percent in December 2008, marking the largest month-to-month reduction since April 1994, when the unionized less-than-truckload industry was in the midst of a strike.
December's drop was the third-largest single-month drop since ATA began collecting the data in 1973. In December, the seasonally adjusted tonnage index equaled just 98.3 (2000 = 100), its lowest level since December 2000. The not seasonally adjusted index edged 0.6 percent higher in December.
Compared with December 2007, the index declined 14.1 percent, the biggest year-over-year decrease since February 1996. During the fourth quarter, tonnage was down 6 percent from the same quarter in 2007.
ATA chief economist Bob Costello said the December reading confirms that the United States is in the thick of a recession.
Source: Truckinginfo.com, Jan. 27, 2009
01/27/09
HDDA Members Asked to Complete HDAW '09 Education Survey, All Members Urged to Attend Conference
HDDA and fellow Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) sponsors are seeking members’ input to help make HDAW ’09, "Maximizing Opportunities in Challenging Times," a valuable and audience-tailored program. To accomplish this, HDAW sponsors would like to measure your level of interest in selected presentation topics.
Please assist the Education Committee in insuring that the HDAW ’09 programs will meet your needs by completing a brief survey for the HDAW '09 Education Session, "Essential Elements of Your Business Plan," a looking forward discussion moderated by Bill Wade, Wade and Partners. This education session will focus on heavy duty distributors planning for the future.
Click here to access the survey for the HDAW ’09 education session. Your completed survey automatically enters you into a drawing to win a complimentary HDAW '09 registration.
If you have not yet registered for HDAW ‘09, please consider this important reminder from Marc Karon, president, Total Truck Parts and chairman, HDAW.
“Sure we are in a recession and some in our industry are struggling, but now is precisely the right time to prepare and get our businesses positioned for the recovery that is soon to come. Rather than dwell on the recession, I’m bullish on the future of the heavy duty aftermarket and I want to tell you why,” Karon said.
- There is a pent-up need to buy by customers who have parked their trucks and scavenged parts to cut costs.
- The next economic stimulus bill will suddenly focus on infrastructure repairs and redevelopment driving a rapid increase in activity at the construction fleet level.
- Neglected trucks will soon have to be properly serviced and repaired.
- Companies with the parts, the mechanics, the cash and operational capabilities will land the new business.
“For these and other reasons, distributors and suppliers need to take advantage of this economic climate to invest in developing strong strategic alliances to ensure that they will be ready to capitalize on the recovery. In addition, they need to find new ways to do business and break from their paradigms. That's why Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 16-19, is a must-attend event for all of us in this great industry. HDAW is precisely where alliances will be strengthened and forged, and where networking and insightful education sessions will lead to the new strategies and efficiencies we need to adopt,” Karon said.
To view the HDAW program and valuable take-aways for your business, please review the conference agenda at www.hdaw.org.
“Don't miss this opportunity to make an investment that will pay dividends down the road,” Karon said.
For more information and to register for HDAW '09, visit www.hdaw.org.
01/22/09
November Class 4-8 Sales Slip Again, But Class 8 Levels Off
Medium and heavy duty truck sales through November totaled 296,362, down 19.5 percent from the same period of 2007.
November Class 4-8 sales were 22,199, down 18.2 percent from November 2007.
Heavy duty Class 8 truck sales staged a rebound of sorts in November, totaling 10,598, up 2.8 percent from November 2007. All other classes continued their slump.
Freightliner (up 44.2 percent) and International (up 25.6 percent) led the November Class 8 turnaround. Eleven-month Class 8 sales were off 13.1 percent, compared to being down 19.5 percent a year ago.
Source: Truckinginfo.com, Jan. 21, 2009
01/15/09
HDDA Remembers Industry Leader Dick Bell Who Died This Week
Well-known industry leader and founding member of the Heavy Duty Distribution Association (HDDA), Dick Bell, died Tuesday, Jan. 13. Bell was president of Bell Frame and Brake Service, Inc., the company where he started working with his father in 1962. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Dothan, Dothan, Ala., at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16. Family will receive friends and relatives in the church fellowship hall from 9:15 a.m. until time for the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Diabetes Research and Training Center (DRTC) at UAB, 1675 University Blvd, Room #Web 232, Attn: Sabrina Carpenter, Birmingham, AL 35294, or the Dothan Rescue Mission, 216 E. Crawford Street, Dothan, AL 36301, a long-term project supported by the First Presbyterian Men’s Bible Class.
Aftermarket colleagues remembered Bell with tributes. HDDA board of governors chairman John Flad, Bendix CVS, said “Dick truly was the father of HDDA. He had a history of leadership and enormous contributions that transcended normal membership. I don’t think there has ever been another volunteer who gave so much of himself and of his time to the organization.”
Bell served on the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA) Heavy Duty Division (HDD) from 1983-90, and chaired the education committee during those years. He also was a director of ASIA from 1983-85 to 1993-96, and after ASIA consolidated with the Automotive Parts and Accessories Association (APAA) in 1999 to form AAIA, he continued his work on the Education Committee until 2008. He was on the HDD (later HDDA) board of governors, from 1996 until 2008, and served as association vice chairman, 1996-99 and as chairman, 2000-2002.
HDDA immediate past board chairman Dave Scheer, Inland Truck Parts, said “Dick was a true gentleman with a quick wit. He was truly dedicated to HDDA and AAIA. He will be missed.”
Long-time board colleague Dave Bell, Erie DriveTrain, Inc,. said “I first met Dick Bell over 25 years ago while we served together in the heavy duty segment of ASIA. From the first time I was introduced, to the last time I spoke with Dick in late December, he epitomized the phrase "Southern Gentleman." His passions included his family and friends and the heavy duty industry – especially the field of education. He will be missed by all and I have lost a close personal friend.”
Fellow board member Russ White, Eaton Corp/Aftermarket Products, also thought of Bell as the “true southern gentleman. He had a style and class about him that once you knew him set him apart from others. I agree he will be solely missed. Our prayers are with Martha and her family during this difficult time.”
Noting Bell’s love of golf, Dave Engstrom, Mutual Wheel Company, said “Dick was also always willing to get in a round of golf as we traveled to all the ASIA/HD and HDDA meetings. We lost a Governor.”
In addition to HDDA, Bell was very active with the Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Southeast (AAAS) formerly (Automotive Wholesalers' Association of Alabama/Georgia [AWAA]) serving many years on its board of directors and executive committee and as treasurer. The group’s executive, Randal Ward, said that “Dick meant so much to all of us. He was a true friend and one that will be sorely missed.”
Bell also held leadership positions in the Truck Frame and Axle Association (TARA), National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). In 1989, he was the recipient of the Northwood University Automotive Aftermarket Education Award, and in 1995 was honored with the Heavy Duty Distributor Association Professional of the Year Award.
Bell leaves a remarkable legacy of numerous activities and service, with his church, community, civic and educational organizations and causes.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Martha Groenendyke Bell; daughter Charlotte Milner of San Antonio, Texas; daughter Allyson (Joe) McLean of Birmingham, Ala.; and five grandchildren.