ACT’s preliminary estimate for October net trailer orders is 32,000 units, which takes the yearly total to more than 226,000 net orders—a 45% increase over last year at the same time, according to ACT Research.
“At October’s build rate, the current orderboard would take the industry through most of next year’s first quarter,” said Frank Maly, ACT’s Director of CV Transportation Analysis and Research.
“The industry order season is off to a solid start, with a surge in dry van orders providing most of the momentum last month. At this point last year, the industry was in a bit of a holding pattern with pre-election jitters keeping some fleets sidelined. That helped set the stage for October’s solid 50% year-over-year net order comparison.”
The Federal Appeal Court ruling on GHG-2 regulations, although occurring late in the month, likely alleviated some new year market uncertainty, and could have helped finalize some fleet investment decisions as the month closed.