TRAILER manufacturers enjoyed one of their most productive months on record in May, according to figures compiled by the U S Bureau of Census.
Industry companies combined to ship 23,404 complete trailers during the month. May's output topped every month in 1994 (at that time a record year) and all but three months of 1995. March (28,957), May (24,848) and June 1995 (24,259) are the only months more productive than May 1997.
Shipments were up 28% compared with May 1996, according to figures compiled by the U S Bureau of Census. It was a particularly strong month for vans (up 29%, thanks in part to a 160% increase in livestock vans), platforms (up 39%), and lowbeds (up 32% from a year earlier).
In addition to the complete trailers, the industry shipped an estimated 1,346 containers and container chassis (down 53% from May 1996), along with 272 dollies and converter gear (up 157%).
The strong performance in May was the fourth consecutive monthly increase and the third time in as many months that shipments have exceeded 20,000 trailers. The industry shipped 22,158 complete trailers in April, up 21% when compared with April 1996.
Through the first five months of 1997, the industry is on a pace to ship almost 250,000 complete trailers in 1997. That would make this year the second-best on record, surpassed only by the 279,144 trailers shipped during 1995. Including May's output, the industry already shipped 102,859 complete trailers, up 9% from the corresponding period of 1996.
Truck Sales Steady Truck customers continued to buy at historically high levels, according to figures compiled by the American Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Class 1 trucks (GVW ratings of 6,000 pounds or less) edged up 3% from May 1996 and were up 4% through the first five months of this year.
Class 2 trucks (GVW ratings of 6,001 to 10,000 pounds) slipped 8% for the month and were down 7% through the first five months of 1997. Dealers sold 146,639 Class 2 trucks during the month and 755,016 for the first five months of 1997.
Class 3 trucks (GVW ratings of 10,001 to 14,000 pounds) edged up 6% in May and were up 23% compared with the first five months of 1996. Customers bought 4,623 Class 3 trucks during May and 24,395 through the first five months of this year.
Class 4 trucks (GVW ratings of 14,001 to 16,000 pounds) were virtually unchanged. The 5,407 Class 4 trucks sold during May were 2% more than were sold during May 1996, while the 23,614 sold during the first five months of 1997 trailed year-earlier levels by 4%.
Class 6 trucks (GVW ratings of 19,501 to 26,000 pounds) showed a similar pattern. Customers bought 1,577 Class 6 trucks in May, a 2% increase. Slower sales earlier this year, however, drove year-to-date sales down-8% below the 8,358 Class 6 trucks sold during the corresponding period of 1996.
Class 7 trucks (GVW ratings of 26,001 to 33,000 pounds) increased 4% both for the month and year-to-date. Dealers sold 10,406 Class 7 trucks during the month and 46,523 through the first five months of 1997.
Class 8 trucks (GVW ratings above 33,000 pounds) were down slightly both for the month and the year. The 14,915 Class 8 trucks sold in May were 6% below year-earlier levels. The five-month sales total was down 4%, with 69,543 Class 8 trucks sold during the period.
In other areas:
*Intermodal shipments were up 6.7% through the first 26 weeks of 1997, according to figures compiled by the Association of American Railroads. Of the 4,235,752 intermodal units carried on U S railroads during the first half of the year, 40% were trailers, and 60% were containers. Trailer volume was up 5% compared with the first 26 weeks of 1996, while container volume was up 7.9%.
*Industrial production increased 0.4% in May, about the same as in the previous two months, according to the Federal Reserve. At 119.7% of its 1992 average, industrial production in May was 4.3% above its level of May 1996.