ACT: US trailer market still on track for record year

Research company ACT has reported that US trailer net orders declined 27 per cent in July.

According to Frank Maly, Director CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT, the drop 20,300 units came after hitting an “unsustainable 27,900-unit pace” in June.

Year-over-year order volume still rose about seven per cent, though.

“While total net orders were off 27 per cent m/m, the majority of that decline was dry van related, a response to the unusually strong dry van volume in June,” said Maly.

“Dry vans and flatbeds drove most of the slight jump in cancellations that occurred in July, with the flatbed shift reported to be the response to dealers bringing their inventories more in line with current demand.”

Maly noted that “some pressure” in vocational trailers is likely over the next few months, as the full impact of the recent energy price declines is yet to be seen.

He added, “Lower prices will continue to dampen exploration, as well as the accompanying equipment investment.

“Our view that 2015 will be the best trailer market since the late 1990s remains unchanged.”

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