Trucking Industry Figures Show Trailer Orders Up 70% in November

Preliminary estimates for U.S. net trailer orders in November total 36,300 units, according to analysts at ACT Research Co. Inc., with final November volumes due later this month.

“Net trailer orders rebounded strongly in November, as the industry entered the core of its order season,” said Frank Maly, ACT’s director of commercial vehicle transportation analysis and research. Order volume was the highest of the year, and the best since last November.

Maly said three factors contributed to the solid performance.

“Dry van orders were more than double that of October and nearly equivalent to last November,” he said. “Cancellations — which we measure as a percent of backlog — appear to have slid to the lowest rate since May. Finally, recent energy price increases appear to have helped liquid and bulk tank order volumes post both month over month and year over year improvement.”

Maly added, “Despite the month-over-month surge for total trailer orders, volume still trailed last November by roughly 7 to 8 percent, while year-to-date volumes are down over 30 percent.”

ACT is a leading publisher of new and used commercial vehicle industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market. Source: http://www.truckingnewsonline.com/news/trucking-industry-figures-show-trailer-orders-up-70-in-november/10776/