Trailer Orders Surge to Record High
Trailer orders leaped to a record-high 47,810 in October, almost doubling from a year ago, ACT Research Co. reported.
The 93.1% year-over-year leap followed an 86% surge in September. Net orders this year total 278,204, up 56.5% from the same period last year.
“It was a banner month,” said ACT’s Frank Maly. “Net orders were an all-time industry record.”
Orders were 25.5% higher than the previous record of 38,086, set in March 2006, he told Transport Topics.
Net orders are total orders minus cancellations, but the 505 cancellations were negligible, accounting for 1% of the total, Maly said.
“The indications we’re hearing is there’s even more strength coming from the small to medium fleets, as well as from dealers,” he said. “They need inventory, too.”
Dry van orders almost doubled year-over-year to 31,603, while reefers jumped 132% to 6,170.
Flatbed orders just over 4,700 were the second highest on record, jumping 128% from a year ago, ACT said.
Manufacturers’ backlogs also hit a record of 144,043, doubling from a year ago and topping the 140,000 record, also from March 2006.
