ACT Research hosted its 73rd commercial vehicle outlook seminar, Market Vitals: The Current & Future Health of the Industry, on Aug. 20 – 21, 2025.
Day 2 featured an economics panel including David Teolis, chief economist at ACT Research; Bob Costello, chief economist and senior vice president at American Trucking Associations; Jordan Vickers, vice president and chief economist at Eaton; and moderated by Jim Meil, principal and industry analysis at ACT Research.
According to panel participants, the CV industry faces an economy currently marked by weaker growth, rising inflation and slower/unbalanced job gains, coupled with a lengthy freight recession and the early innings of tariff impacts.
Day 2 also included heavy-duty, freight and trailer current market and forecast presentations from ACT Research analysts: Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst; Tim Denoyer, vice president and senior analyst; Jennifer McNealy, director, research analysis and publications; and Carter Vieth, research analyst.
In a nutshell, the freight situation is tariff-ying. Carrier profits remain weak. Freight rate traction is nonexistent. Private fleets are pulling back. Class 8 and trailer markets face production and labor cuts, trade policy challenges, and regulatory uncertainty. 2025 and 2026 build forecasts have diminished as a result. 80% of for-hire fleets ACT surveyed in August indicated they have no plans for trailer purchases this year or next. Trailer demand is currently subpar, but pent-up demand is building.
