Trailer net orders in October, exceeding 33,000 units, were down 7% from September and 30% on a year-over-year basis. Nevertheless, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT), the solid order season continues for this segment of the commercial vehicle industry.
“The solid order season continued for U.S. trailers in October, although m/m and y/y comparisons were both in the red,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT. “As we noted last month, there was little chance of solid y/y comparisons, given last year’s all-time record order volumes.
“The key is that orders were sufficiently strong to grow backlog, and indications are that more strength remains in the order pipeline.”
“October’s strength was provided by an all-time monthly record for reefers, along with a jump in flatbed volume. This is the season when we would expect order volumes to generate backlog growth, and that occurred in five of the ten trailer categories in October.”