Trailer manufacturers received net orders for 14,000 trailers in August, according to a report compiled by FTR.
August net trailer orders were up 48% from July. Despite the increase, orders were down 48% compared with August 2015. Order activity was moderately above expectations, as dry van orders and flatbeds rebounded from a weak July.
Orders have totaled 250,000 units over the past twelve months. Backlogs fell another 9% and are now 27% lower than a year ago. Trailer build was up 2% for August on a per day basis.
“Overall, it was not too bad for a month of August for the trailer industry,” said Don Ake, FTR vice-president of commercial vehicles. “New orders were at the highest level in six months. This was mitigated by a high number of cancellations, as OEM’s continue to clean previous “place holder orders” out of the backlog. Production also stabilized some after dipping precipitously in July.
“The van segments continue to weaken at a moderate pace. OEMs are expecting a correction, but not a collapse. There is an average level of quote activity happening, so the market is maintaining some stability. Several of the vocational segments have very weak backlogs and need a boost of orders soon, or production will drop. “
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