Harrie Schippers, pictured above, President and Chief Financial Officer of PACCAR, said the Trump tax cuts are responsible for his industry's and his company's record profits and sales.

The tax cuts generated "positive cash flow for PACCAR as well as benefit the transportation industry in the United States," said Schippers.

His company builds Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF semi-trucks. These are heavy-duty trucks used to pull trailers in long-haul routes.

PACCAR has 30.7 per cent market share.

http://www.paccar.com/news/current-news/2018/paccar-achieves-record-annual-revenues-and-strong-profits/

Increased truck sales started in December when trucking fleets in North America ordered 37,500 new trucks. This was up 76% from the year before. It marked the strongest monthly demand for new trucks in three years, according to ACT Research, an industry group.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trucking-firms-boost-orders-for-new-vehicles-1515157200

New truck sales were 133,000 in January, February, and March. This was also double the year before. February was the eighth best month for new rig sales in the industry's history, according to FTR, a company that released an industry report Tuesday.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/heavy-duty-truck-orders-hit-a-record-pace-1522854965

Why did semi-truck sales double?

Demand to move goods by truck increased. People and companies had more to spend because they are paying less taxes. To meet the demand, trucking fleets needed new rigs. If they failed to buy new semi-trucks, they would lose business to the fleets who did.

What was the difference from a year ago?

Donald J. Trump is President. Trump's tax cuts became law Dec. 22nd.

Semi-truck makers have a back log of orders and are at a three-year high, according to ACT Research, a transportation equipment analysis group.

One of the first indicators of a growing economy is truck traffic. When it increases, the economy expands too.

Laid off workers at Volvo and Daimler have been recalled. That is another indicator that the economy is getting better too.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/pulaski_county/volvo-trucks-to-hire-several-hundred-at-dublin-plant/article_115a4acc-57a7-51c2-95da-0e65d5dd54e9.html