US research company, FTR, has reported preliminary September net trailer orders at 21,500 units, which is up 47 per cent from August and up 84 per cent compared to last year.
Orders met FTR’s expectations, supporting its forecast of another reportedly strong trailer market in 2018. Trailer orders have now totalled 275,000 units over the past twelve months, much in line with the company’s 2017 production numbers.
“This is great news for the trailer market in 2018,” said FTR Vice President – Commercial Vehicles, Don Ake. “When fleets begin ordering more trailers in September, it indicates the market should be robust the following year. We expect ordering activity to accelerate in October and stay elevated throughout Q4. Production rates should stay at higher levels, rolling right into 2018.”
“Freight expansion early next year will severely strain industry capacity, and fleets will need to add trailers to handle the added loads,” said Ake. “Both the manufacturing and consumer sectors of the economy are healthy right now, and this should lead to increased demand for most trailer segments.
“Things look very positive for trailers right now,” he said.