According to the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle Outlook from ACT Research, the demand story for commercial vehicles remains unchanged in 2021 vs. 2020, but the supply chain’s ability to respond to demand will be the key determinant of Class 8 and van trailer production through the rest of the year.

“Because of the global surge for resources that began in the last half of 2020, the added challenges of ramping the supply chain rapidly in a pandemic, and other exogenous factors bubbling up, we are comfortable taking a cautious approach to our full-year 2021 calls,” Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst for ACT Research, said. “As we start 2021, the high points for CV demand include strength in key freight-generating economic sectors, carrier profitability that is expected to rise to record levels this year, strong orders and rapidly-filling backlogs.

“While demand is strong, supply chain impediments are accumulating, from steel production constraints created by global economic re-engagement during a pandemic, to silicon chip shortages, and, in late January, the Mexican government ordering oxygen producers to give medical demand precedence over industrial supplies.”