U.S. Trailer Net Orders Rose 27% Y/Y in May

| June 28, 2018

Trailer Construction

Net U.S. trailer orders were 22,900 not seasonally adjusted, off only 2% month-over-month, but this translated to a 27% increase when compared to May 2017. According to ACT Research, the dramatic seasonally adjusted strength in net orders, up 23% m/m, was highly dry van focused, as most other trailer categories saw seasonally adjusted sequential declines or minimal increases, at best.

“With assistance from dry vans, the industry posted the 18th straight month with y/y net order improvement, and fleets must now patiently await delivery of the trailers that fill the vast majority of this year’s production slots,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research.

Maly added, “May production was a bit weaker than we projected, with continued reports of component issues generating near-term challenges, and tariffs and trade wars listed as potentials for future difficulties.” He continued, “May build of 27,900 trailers (nsa) was up 3% month-over-month, but off 5% when seasonal adjustments were applied. This could be the first indication that some of the industry’s usual build season production increases might be a bit more elusive this year, despite the robust orderboard.”

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