US-based data analysis firm, ACT Research, is optimistic about the state of North America's trailer manufacturing industry.
June net US trailer orders of 13,441 units were, according to ACT Research's latest trailer report, a significant improvement (333 per cent) from May’s very low comparison, arriving dramatically above June 2019’s level, up 112 per cent. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 16,000 units were up 117 per cent versus May and 41 per cent better year-over-year.
ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current US trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders, and factory shipments. It is accompanied by a database that gives historical information from 1996 to the present, as well as a ready-to-use graph packet, to allow organisations in the trailer production supply chain, and those following the investment value of trailers and trailer OEMs and suppliers, to better understand the market.
“It is important to remember that those comparisons are to exceedingly low orders during the first part of this quarter, when widespread Covid lockdowns were in place,” said ACT Research Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research, Frank Maly.
“That said, the improved sequential comparisons do indicate some fleets, after assessing current market conditions, are beginning to cautiously commit to capital expenditures.
“Discussions indicated that large fleet orders helped drive June results, meaning improvement is generally not spread evenly across all OEMs, and we expect that choppiness to continue as we move through the summer.
“OEMs continue to seek order/build equilibrium, and while some fleets are willing to make investment commitments, most continue to remain on the sidelines, despite some negotiations occurring to help generate order volume.”
Earlier this year, US trailer production faced a dip demand and disruptions amid Covid-19 outbreak.