U.S. Trailer Net Orders Post Another Significant Improvement in August

ACT Research reports new orders of 29k units were up 46% versus July

August net US trailer orders of 28,139 units were a significant improvement (up 49%) from July’s uptick and well above August 2019’s level (up 160%). Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 29k units were up 46% versus July and 96% better year-over-year, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report.

“Conversations in recent months have indicated a change in fleet perspective, frequently phrased as more requests for quotes, ongoing negotiations, or a simple statement that ‘the phone is ringing a lot more lately’,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. He added, “That shift started in late June, and we saw a minor gain in orders in July.”

Maly continued, “However, it’s still not all sunshine, as August’s orders included a substantial amount of large fleet demand, with strong e-commerce support, which bodes well for dry vans and reefers, but provides minimal benefit for vocational categories.” He commented, “With large fleets seeing better volumes and rates, they may be moving with a more bullish perspective than we perceive, and while trailer OEMS welcome the interest, they are wondering if the recent order strength has ‘legs’.”

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