Truck Equipment

The economy certainly has changed greatly over the past year, but uncertainty has hardly evaporated. This session offers an assessment of key trends in the global economy, what distortions from the pandemic remain, and how those factors might affect demand for commercial vehicles as well as costs and production levels. 

Presenters:
TBA

Starting with a brief overview of the freight dynamics and economic forces that drive demand, this session will lay out FTR's assessment of the Class 8 market, including a recap of orders and backlogs and forecasts of shipments and retail sales for the coming year. Just as important, we will delve into the key risks that might lead to a stronger or weaker market.

Presenter: 
Eric Starks, FTR

Commercial truck manufacturers and their customers are facing a plethora of changes related to emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants not only from the Environmental Protection Agency but also from the California Air Resources Board and from other states that adopt California’s regulations. This session will review the status of these changes and how they might affect truck technology and purchasing in the years to come.

Presenter:
Sean Waters, Daimler Trucks North America

Longstanding driver productivity challenges and more recent developments such as shifts in distribution strategies and constraints due to labor and parts availability have propped up demand for trailers. Will a slowing economy finally mean a downturn for the market?

Presenter:
Avery Vise, FTR

Hear a leading Wall Street analyst's views on where the market for Class 8 trucks is headed during the year ahead.

Presenter:
Matt Elkott, Cowen

Göran Nyberg, Navistar's executive vice president of commercial operations, will share his insights into the commercial truck market gained through more than two decades of senior executive positions with multiple truck OEMs in both North America and Europe. 

Presenters: 
Göran Nyberg, Navistar
Eric Starks, FTR

One consequence of U.S. trade policy over the past several years has been expanded opportunities for North American suppliers of intermodal chassis and containers. This session will explore how that market has developed so far and where it might go in the years ahead.

Presenters:
TBA

Moderator: 
Avery Vise, FTR

Extraordinary freight demand and a limited supply of new trucks, sent used truck prices soaring in 2021, but the market began to correct in a major way by mid-2022. This session explores whether the big swings are behind us and where the used truck market is heading as 2024 approaches.

Presenter: 
Chris Visser, J.D. Power

Executives with leading fleets will discuss a host of pressing and longer-term issues in equipment management, including how pandemic disruptions have affected purchasing, maintenance, and lifecycles; how emissions regulations factor into their long-range planning; and how they view emerging technologies such as electric powertrains and autonomous driving systems.

Panelists:
Kirk Altrichter, Kenan Advantage Group
Stacy Earnhardt, Best Logistics Group
Mike Jeffress, Maverick USA, Inc. 

Moderator: 
Avery Vise, FTR

The medium-duty truck market saw major stresses during the pandemic with demand surging on the heavy end of final mile but production was constrained as manufacturers shifted scarce semiconductors and other components to Class 8 production. With both supply and demand stabilizing, what does the future hold for Class 4 through 7?

Presenter:
Eric Starks, FTR 

Location: Grand Hall Bar, Union Station