USA Truck rejoins ATA, class 8 truck orders rise

USA Truck has rejoined trade organization American Trucking Associations as big rig orders jump 160%. The ATA announced the Van Buren-based carrier as its newest member Friday (Nov. 3).

“USA Truck is a recognized and respected name in our industry,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “I am thrilled to welcome them to the ATA family at this crucial time for our industry. With ATA engaged on so many fronts — tax reform, infrastructure, safety and trade — having industry leaders like USA Truck at the table is critical to our industry’s success.”

USA Truck was founded in 1983 and is one of the largest truckload fleets in the United States.

“We are excited to be back in the ATA as full participants and look forward to the opportunities to contribute to the industry as members of this group of like-minded professionals,” said USA Truck President and CEO James Reed. “The environment we encountered with our fellow members in the short time since our return has been rewarding and inviting. We look forward to advancing our shared agenda and interest in representing the industry as members of the ATA and continuing to make USA Truck an even better steward to our business and industry.”

The decision to leave the ATA was one made by previous management, said David Turner, senior manager of marketing for USA Truck.

On Oct. 24, Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services rejoined the ATA.

BIG RIG ORDERS RISE
In October, orders of class 8 trucks, or the big rigs that pull the trailers, rose to 36,200 units, “from a particularly easy, cancellation impacted, year-ago comp,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at ACT Research. “October is typically the second strongest order month of the year.” The seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales is 379,400, up 20% from September.

The strong orders in October reflect the “improving freight conditions and freight rates in 2017 that will lead to a rebound in carrier profitability in 2018,” Vieth said. The orders put “upward pressure on ACT’s expectations for class 8 demand next year. At the same time, we recognized the potential that this year’s NACV show [September] may have pulled-forward the timing of orders that wo