ACT Research: U.S. Trailer Net Orders Post Another Significant Improvement in July
COLUMBUS, IN – (Trailer Technician) – July net US trailer orders of 18,851 units were a significant improvement (up 40%) from June’s uptick and well above July 2019’s level (up 80%). Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 20k units were up 26% versus June and 44% better year-over-year, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report.
ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current US trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders, and factory shipments. It is accompanied by a database that gives historical information from 1996 to the present, as well as a ready-to-use graph packet, to allow organizations in the trailer production supply chain, and those following the investment value of trailers and trailer OEMs and suppliers, to better understand the market.
“The industry continues to climb from the COVID-generated historic low order volume posted in April,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. He added, “At this time last year, however, fleets were in a freight volume and rate-driven investment retrenchment that continued through last September/October.”
Maly continued, “Our conversations this month indicate that a change in fleet attitudes began to occur in mid-June, when they began to investigate availability and pricing.” He commented, “Discussions following the July 4 holiday break shifted toward active negotiations and order placement.” Maly further explained, “An interesting dichotomy for the industry was occurring at that time, as OEMs extended holiday downtime, fleets began to make investment commitments, with larger fleets leading the way and trailer order strength concentrated in the dry van segment.”
ACT Research is recognized as the leading publisher of commercial vehicle truck, trailer, and bus industry data, market analysis and forecasts for the North America and China markets. ACT’s analytical services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as banking and investment companies. ACT Research is a contributor to the Blue Chip Economic Indicators and a member of the Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Panel. ACT Research executives have received peer recognition, including election to the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics, appointment as Consulting Economist to the National Private Truck Council, and the Lawrence R. Klein Award for Blue Chip Economic Indicators’ Most Accurate Economic Forecast over a four-year period. ACT Research senior staff members have earned accolades including Chicago Federal Reserve Automotive Outlook Symposium Best Overall Forecast, Wall Street Journal Top Economic Outlook, and USA Today Top 10 Economic Forecasters. More information can be found at www.actresearch.net.
Frank Maly Bio
Director, CV Transportation Analysis & Research
After receiving his B.S. from Bowling Green State University, Frank spent twelve years at a Fortune 150 company where his responsibilities included the North American Industry Forecast as well as other market analysis and market information responsibilities. While there, he also obtained an MBA from Western Michigan University.
Prior to joining ACT in 2011, Frank has been involved in the commercial vehicle industry for 18 years. He’s held analytical and product management roles at a major trailer OEM, a component supplier, as well as a supplier of commercial vehicle analysis and marketing solutions. As a past ACT customer, Frank also contributes a customer-oriented perspective to the organization.