ACT research is estimating US trailer orders to have hit the 17,850-unit mark in May, with a +/- three per cent margin.
Net orders were off approximately 14 per cent month-on-month, but that was actually better than expected since historic order patterns call for decline in excess of 20 per cent in May,” said Frank Maly, ACT’s Director of CV Transportation Analysis and Research.
He continued, “The major May story is the continuation of the 2016-17 order season momentum.
“After a very slow start last fall, orders have been up year-on-year every month since December, with both April and May posting year-on-year gains of 25 per cent or better.”
Preliminary information shows that dry vans were the major contributor to the solid May performance, Maly added.
“Dry vans, while off month-over-month as history projects, were up almost 50 per cent versus last year. Flatbeds, dumps, and tanks also posted solid year-on-year results last month.”