In June, U.S. trailer orders fell for the sixth month in a row with preliminary orders reported by FTR at 18,600 units. Trailer orders have now totaled 335,000 units for the past twelve months.
The market has entered the traditional slow-order summer months. Trailer production has held up fairly well despite some late supplier deliveries. Build rates continue at robust levels and the backlog remains strong. There is little need at this point for fleets to place many new orders.
“You can expect order rates to remain subdued for a couple of months," Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles, said. "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.”
“The economy is healthy, freight growth is sturdy, and sales remain strong. The market is performing according to traditional trends, albeit at record-setting levels.”
For more than two decades, FTR has been a thought leader in freight transportation forecasting in North America. The company’s national award-winning forecasters collect and analyze all data likely to impact freight movement, issuing consistently reliable reports for trucking, rail, and intermodal transportation, as well as providing demand analysis for commercial vehicle and railcar. FTR’s forecasting and specially designed reports have resulted in advanced planning and cost-savings for companies throughout the transportation sector.
