Trailer orders grow in November

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Updated Dec 19, 2017

U.S. net trailer orders last month soared 34 percent above October to 42,600 units, gaining 19 percent over November last year according to data released by FTR Monday.

November’s order volume will boost OEM backlogs which FTR says appeared to weaken at the end of October.

“November trailer orders are wonderful news for the industry and for the general economy,” says Don Ake, FTR’s vice president of commercial vehicles. “Fleets continue to anticipate the need for more trailers in 2018. Freight growth has been tremendous in Q4, and we forecast it to remain at least good through the first half of 2018. We can expect more use of drop-and-hook logistics in dry vans, refrigerated vans and flatbeds as trailer truck productivity is reduced and the driver shortage intensifies.”

Based on November orders, Ake expects production in 2018 to begin at a healthy clip.

Annualized trailer order number are now 295,000 for the past twelve months.