A downward trend in trailer orders this year is accompanying the softening freight environment in 2019, but also follows a banner year when motor carriers stocked up on equipment they think they’ll need to navigate the next several years, fleet and manufacturing executives said.

It’s been a tough year for trailer orders, and July was no exception as preliminary net orders fell below 10,000 units.

Dry van and refrigerated trailers will evolve over the next 10 years to become more connected, lighter, more durable and more aerodynamic than today’s equipment, executives at major trailer manufacturers said.

U.S. trailer orders keep on coming and hit the mid-20,000s in February, contending for positions in an already lengthy backlog, analysts reported.