US trailer net orders were down seven per cent month-over-month in October and 30 per cent on a year-over-year basis, according to ACT Research.
Despite the disappointing result, which is in line with the figures published by FTR last week, the solid order season in North America is set to continue, said Frank Maly, Director CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT.
“The solid order season continued for US trailers in October, although month-over-month and year-over-year comparisons were both in the red.
“As we noted last month, there was little chance of solid year-over-year comparisons, given last year’s all-time record order volumes.”
He continued, “The key is that orders were sufficiently strong to grow backlog, and indications are that more strength remains in the order pipeline.”
Maly added, “October’s strength was provided by an all-time monthly record for reefers, along with a jump in flatbed volume.
“This is the season when we would expect order volumes to generate backlog growth, and that occurred in five of the ten trailer categories in October.”