Trailer shipments continue to grow
Nov 18, 2004 1:26 AM
The growth in trailer shipments continued in the third quarter, according to figures compiled by Economic Planning Associates of Smithville, New York.
The acceleration rate slowed down somewhat, according to EPA Inc president Peter Toja, but output was still increasing as the industry entered the last three months of 2004.
“Even though third quarter shipments advanced only 1.3% from the second quarter level, they still represented a sizable hike over the third quarter of last year,” Toja says. “Through the first nine months of this year, manufacturers had shipped 28.6% more trailers than in the comparable period of last year.”
The most recent EPA Inc survey of trailer manufacturers indicated that manufacturers shipped 57,325 units during the third quarter, 33% higher than last year.
Through the first three quarters of 2004, manufacturers shipped an estimated 165,925 complete trailers, a 29% increase from the corresponding period of 2003.
“Based on our analyses of major customer markets, we look for further shipments gains in the fourth quarter of this year, extending into 2005,” Toja says. “While our economic momentum slowed somewhat in the second quarter, activities picked up in the third quarter, and we expect further advances in the quarters ahead.”
Toja pointed to several reasons for the optimistic outlook, including expanding freight, the need to replace aging trailers, major improvements in trucking revenues, and an improving economy.
EPA Inc clients will receive complete details in the company’s latest quarterly truck and trailer report.
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