In The News

ACT Research: U.S. trailer orders drop to lowest total since January 2010

By The Trucker News Services
Posted Aug 24th 2016 4:27PM

ACT Research: U.S. Trailer Orders drop to lowest total since January 2010

COLUMBUS, IN – July U.S. trailer net orders fell 25 percent month over month and decreased 50 percent from last year, ACT Research Co. reported August 22.

"The second half of the year opened on a disappointing note; net orders of 10,147 trailers were the lowest monthly volume since January 2010," said Frank Maly, Director of Commercial Vehicle Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT. "Low freight rates along with slow demand appear to have brought contemplation of fleet overcapacity to the forefront, causing fleets to reassess their equipment needs for the short and medium terms."

A usual mid-summer drop in orders exacerbated the weak order total, he added.

"Current market conditions will challenge the timing of this year's order season; recent years have seen a progressive 'pull-ahead' of volumes, as fleets saw equipment needs and were willing to fast-track their commitments," Maly said. "Market conditions don't really support that pattern this year. We anticipate, at best, near-normal order season timing, which means more action in quarter four versus the quarter three trend we've seen in recent years."

The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at [email protected].

theTrucker.com