Total industry shipments (including products such as container chassis and converter dollies) of 48,400 units in the third quarter were up just 5% year over year due to soft container and chassis output.
Despite improving conditions, trailer and total industry shipments remained below year ago levels. Through September, trailer shipments were 14% below year-to-date 2001, and total industry shipments were down 22%.
While production rose sharply in the third quarter, trailer orders followed the path of the U S economy, softening considerably following a strong second quarter. The combination of soft orders and rising production caused industry order-backlogs to fall for a third consecutive month in September.
“Backlogs falling relative to build through the third quarter make the fourth quarter a crossroads of sorts,” says ACTR’s Kenny Vieth. “While we expect trailer production to post another sequential gain during the fourth quarter, stronger orders will be required in the fourth quarter to maintain current production rates in early 2003.”