Trailer shipments continue to grow

May 13, 2003
Shipments of truck trailers continued to rebound in the first quarter of 2003, according to figures compiled by Economic Planning Associates (EPA Inc),
Shipments of truck trailers continued to rebound in the first quarter of 2003, according to figures compiled by Economic Planning Associates (EPA Inc), Smithtown NY.

The increase comes on the heels of what EPA Inc president Peter Toja called “extremely robust advances” in the third and fourth quarters of last year, making this third quarterly increase more impressive. Based on the company’s latest survey of the trailer manufacturers, the industry shipped 42,750 units during the first three months of 2003, 2.9% higher than the previous quarter.

“Even with this modest gain, shipments in this year's opening quarter were running 63.0% above the same period of last year, reflecting the strong run up in shipments during the second half of last year,” Toja said. “More importantly, we are enthused by even the modest quarter-to-quarter growth in shipments given the dismal economic environment of the opening months of the year.”

The increase appeared to be broad-based. Shipments of vans increased 2.7% and non-vans increased 3.4%.

Complete details and short and long term forecasts of customer market activities as well as individual trailer types and container and chassis will be contained in the June 2003 edition of the EPA Inc quarterly Truck and Trailer report that the company sends to its clients.