Revised: This press release from FTR has been revised. The updated release indicates that preliminary trailer orders rose 29% in September to 21,500 units. See revised press release..
Preliminary Trailer Orders Dropped Considerably M/M to 12,500 Units in September
Bloomington, IN – (Trailer Technician) – FTR reports preliminary trailer orders dropped in September, falling 25% m/m to 12,500 units. September trailer orders were -56% y/y and now total 271,000 units for the past 12 months.
Overall, most trailer manufacturers, especially those in the van segments, still must manage production weekly as component shortages continue to hinder production. Even amidst the downward trend seen in orders over the past three months, build levels on a monthly basis remain strong.
Charles Roth, commercial vehicle, analyst for FTR commented “In the retail market, dealerships still can’t keep enough stock to meet demand. At the same time, large carriers haven’t been able to keep up with replacement cycles, which has driven the level of pent-up demand for new replacement units to above-average levels. While net orders have historically followed a seasonal pattern, the past two years have fundamentally changed how OEMs manage their build slots.
“Because there are more unknowns about component shortages and future prices, trailer manufacturers are less likely to book build slots as far in advance as they used to. They are trying to avoid having to push orders back or finish units offline as this has impacted not only their operations but also their customers. The low order volumes could be viewed as OEMs filling in the 2023 build slots when they are confident they have the necessary visibility required to fulfill them.”
About FTR
For more than 30 years, FTR has served as the industry leader in freight transportation forecasting for the shipping, trucking, rail, intermodal, equipment, and financial communities in North America. FTR’s experts, with over 250 years of combined experience in the transportation industry, provide quantitative analysis with historical and modal-specific insights. FTR’s reports, data, commentary, and insights help clients evaluate market risks, identify new opportunities, and make informed decisions.
FTR is the only company with a complete set of freight data for all modes of transportation with detail at the 3 Digit STCC commodity level. FTR tracks and forecasts 200+ unique commodity groups both quarterly and annually using their proprietary Freight•cast U.S. freight transportation model. FTR’s Transportation Conference held annually in September in Indianapolis is a unique event bringing together every aspect of the freight transportation world into one place. For more information www.FTRconference.com
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