ACT Research hosted its 72nd commercial vehicle outlook seminar, Market Vitals: The Current & Future Health of the Industry, on Feb. 19 – 20, 2025. The two-day seminar connected people from across the industry to discuss how different markets affect each other.

Day 1 featured an OEM panel including Mark Brakeall, director marketing, dealer operations and connected vehicle at Hino Trucks; Jonathan Mason, director economic and trucking intelligence at Daimler Trucks North America; and Alan Briley, president at Fontaine Trailer.

According to OEM panel participants, general boots-on-the-ground sentiment is that there is cautious optimism about 2025 market conditions, particularly as we look toward the second half of 2025. Additionally, panelists are watching consumer, manufacturing and construction activity to signal when an uptick to commercial vehicle demand is coming.

Day 1 also included a dealer panel with Warren Auwae, senior vice president of global remarketing at Velocity Vehicle Group, and Josh Sluder, director of dealer development at Integrity Truck Sales.

Dealer panelists agreed the current high cost of new trucks is pushing some smaller fleets that would typically pursue new trucks to look at used. Low-mileage, late model trucks are hot right now.

The next ACT Research Market Vitals Seminar will take place on Aug. 20 – 21, 2025.