October Trailer Orders Fade

Workers manufacture parts at the Stoughton Trailers facility in Stoughton, Wis. U.S. orders in October were 16,800 after reaching 28,300 in September. (Stoughton Trailers)

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U.S. trailer orders dropped below 17,000 in October, according to industry forecaster FTR, far below a year ago when orders reached almost 55,000.

October net orders dipped to 16,800 amid a trend in which orders have been tepid for most of the year, said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles.

Orders were 28,300 in September, according to FTR.

Ake

The supply chain remains clogged and labor availability is restricted, he said.

The challenge for many trailer makers is not to acquire more backlog but to manage the backlog they have, Ake said.

“Fleets need lots of new trailers; however, the manufacturers are being careful about how and when to slot these commitments into the build schedule,” he said. “Monthly order numbers continue to understate the true demand." 

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