Trailer orders slide for sixth consecutive month, but order boost looms

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Updated Jul 23, 2018

Trailer orders fell for the sixth month in a row with preliminary U.S. orders dropping to 18,600 units, according to FTR. Trailer orders have totaled 335,000 units for the past 12 months.

The trailer market has entered summer’s seasonally slow-order months and Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles, says trailer production has held up fairly well despite some late supplier deliveries.

“You can expect order rates to remain subdued for a couple of months,” Ake says. “Fleets should begin placing substantial orders for 2019 beginning in September – a month earlier than normal – because production next year is expected to be hefty once again.”

Build rates continue at robust levels and the backlog remains strong, Ake says, adding there is little need at this point for fleets to place many new orders.

“The economy is healthy, freight growth is sturdy, and sales remain strong,” he says. “The market is performing according to traditional trends, albeit at record-setting levels.”

Jason Cannon has written about trucking and transportation for more than a decade and serves as Chief Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. A Class A CDL holder, Jason is a graduate of the Porsche Sport Driving School, an honorary Duckmaster at The Peabody in Memphis, Tennessee, and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Reach him at [email protected]