FTR Reports U.S. Trailer Net Orders Fell More than 13,000 Units to 21,362 Units in November
Bloomington, IN – (Trailer Technician) – FTR reports November U.S. trailer net orders fell by more than 13,000 units, or 38%, m/m to 21,362 units. Orders were down 45% versus November 2022. Trailer orders were 7% above the current average for 2023. The number of trailers ordered over the last 12 months decreased to just above 276,700 units.
Trailer production was 23,770 in November, down 12% m/m and -9% y/y. Build was lowest since last year, but a drop in production after October is normal, and the average monthly build is still healthy at more than 27,200 units.
Eric Starks, chairman of the board, commented, “With orders coming in under production levels, backlogs in November fell slightly, shedding almost 2,500 units to end at just over 140,000 units. The more pronounced fall in production resulted in an increase for the backlog-to-build ratio to 5.9 months. This ratio is in line with the historical average prior to 2020 and suggests the industry is moving towards a pre-pandemic level of stability.”
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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