Everything moves via truck whether it's bought thru the keyboard or "brick and mortar" businesses. Less freight means less demand for trucks and parts etc. So goes the national economy.
http://cdllife.com/2019/daimler-to-lay-off-900-workers-at-freightliner-plants/
You should really read the articles before posting them. Headlines never tell the whole story. From the article.
"Following a red-hot North American truck market of record sales and production volumes over the last twelve months, the market is now clearly returning to normal market levels. Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) will have to adjust its production output in line with lower market demand and release approximately 450 production workers at its Cleveland manufacturing plant based in Cleveland, North Carolina and approximately 450 workers in Mt. Holly, North Carolina effective October 14, 2019. "
So, they had to adjust to a "Red hot market" that is now returning to normal levels. Hardly a "doomsday" scenario.
there was a big jump in truck orders going from 2017 into 2018, now we get the drop after the big jump.
if you look at the cass index, freight shipments are up from 2016-2017, but are down from 2018.
for me that is only a concern if they continue to fall further.