U.S. Trailer Orders Grow as Orderbooks Begin to Open, But Fall Well Below Last Year’s Seasonal Surge

ACT Research Reports September net US trailer orders of 28,127 units rose nearly 126% from the previous month

September net US trailer orders of 28,127 units rose nearly 126% from the previous month, but were more than 45% lower compared to September of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 32.4k units were up almost 140% versus August, but 38% lower than the previous September, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report. YTD, net orders for the first nine months of 2021 were up 11%, while new orders grew 8% compared to the same time period in 2020, which included the COVID-stricken spring data.

“September total net trailer orders grew mainly as the result of a 268% month-over-month surge in dry van orders for the month, as some 2022 orderbooks were very cautiously cracked open,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. He continued, “It appears that OEMs are being extremely careful regarding acceptance of additional orders, although the caution is more centered in the higher-volume dry van, reefer, and flatbed categories.”

Maly added, “Dry van and reefer OEMs are trying to walk a very delicate line, setting their pricing in a very challenging inflationary environment while also balancing production commitments with component and material availability and staffing concerns.” He concluded, “Staffing seems to have become a more challenging issue for the industry. Adds to staff are very difficult, while consistent attendance of existing staff is also reported to be problematic.”

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