US trailer orders were down seven per cent month-over-month October, research company FTR found.
Despite coming in 30 per cent below the 2014 reference figure, the October figure still beat expectations, said FTR Vice President of Commercial Vehicles, Don Ake.
“In spite of the monthly or yearly comparisons, October was still an outstanding month for trailer orders. Strength in the dry van and refrigerated van segments boosted the total.
“Flatbeds and tanks have really cooled off, however. The dry van orders appear to be ‘pent-up’ demand orders for trailers that were not replaced after the Great Recession.”
He added, “Fleets have money and continue to upgrade their trailers. Freight is weaker, so this is not expansion demand. The refrigerated van market is now expected to remain strong throughout 2016.
“The large order activity in this segment (a record) was totally the result of large fleets placing their entire 2016 requirements now, in order to reserve production slots.”