Trailer shipments continue to climb

Nov. 10, 2006
Trailer shipments expanded by more than 11% in the third quarter, according to figures compiled by Economic Planning Associates (EPA Inc) of Smithtown, New York.

Trailer shipments expanded by more than 11% in the third quarter, according to figures compiled by Economic Planning Associates (EPA Inc) of Smithville, New York.

The industry shipped 65,850 complete trailers during the third quarter, according to the EPA Inc quarterly survey of trailer manufacturers, up from 59,200 shipped during the third quarter of 2005.

In the van segment, dry -freight models set the pace. Manufacturers shipped 36,500 units during the period, up from 32,000 in the third quarter of 2005. By contrast, insulated vans were up 8%, and all other vans dropped 28%.

While a small percentage of the total market, tank and bulk commodity trailers posted the sharpest increases for the quarter. Manufacturers shipped an estimated 2,500 tank trailers in the third quarter, up 25%, while the 950 bulk commodity trailers shipped during the period were up 46% from year-earlier levels.

Platform trailers were also strong, up 18%. Lowebeds edged 3% higher, while dump trailers were up 9%.

3Q 2006(2)

3Q 2005(2)


% Change

YTD 2006

YTD 2005

% Change


Dry Freight

36,500

32,000


14%

104,250

99,300

5%

Insulated

9,300

8,600


8%

29,700

27,150

9%

All other vans

2,100

2,900


-28%

6,700

8,100

-17%

Total vans

47,900

43,500


10%

140,650

134,550

5%


Platform

7,500

6,350


18%

23,200

18,900

23%

Tank

2,500

2,000


25%

7,800

6,100

28%

Lowbed

3,100

3,000


3%

9,500

9,100

4%

Dump

2,500

2,300


9%

8,100

7,050

15%

Bulk

950

650


46%

2,650

1,900

39%

All other

1,400

1,400


0%

4,200

4,000

5%

Total non-vans

17,950

15,700


14%

55,450

47,050

18%


Total trailers

65,850

59,200


11.2

196,100

181,600

8%


Containers (1)

-

1,615


-100.0

1,975

3,465

-43.0

Chassis (1)

660

2,675


-75.3

4,360

6,775

-35.6

Total C&C

660

4,290


-84.6

6,335

10,240

-38.1


(1)Excludes Hyundai and Manac


(2)Industry totals extrapolated from survey sample

(R) Revised



Source: Economic Planning Associates, Inc

November 2006