August ties March for the longest trailer OEM work schedule of the year, which is also three days longer than July. Capitalizing on the additional work days, a sequential increase in U.S. trailer build was expected in August, according to ACT Research.
“The longer schedule gave OEMs a bit of operational breathing room,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. “Daily production of 1,189 units per day, the third-highest of the year, was off seven units per day from July.”
The total U.S. trailer backlog was off 10% month-over-month and 11% lower year over year in August.
“Backlog slipped below 100k for the first time since last October,” said Maly. “While most vocational/specialty trailers backlogs are up versus last year, both dry vans and reefers are in the red, off 11% and 39%, respectively.”