March net US trailer orders of 29,910 units grew more than 13 percent from the previous month and rose more than 252 percent compared to March of 2020. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 33.4k units were up 18 percent versus February and 136 percent better than the previous March, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report.
ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current U.S. 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 organizations in the trailer production supply chain, and those following the investment value of trailers and trailer OEMs and suppliers, to better understand the market.
“After a bit of a pause in February, orders bounced back solidly in March,” said Frank Maly, director – CV transportation analysis and research at ACT Research. In considering longer-term comparisons, though, he cautioned, “We’re now beginning to enter a period where, because of the unprecedented COVID-related impact in 2020, year-over-year comparisons will become much less valuable in determining the strength of the market.
“While one OEM has publicly stated it is ‘pausing’ order acceptance until the company can better determine longer-term materials costs, others continue to negotiate and book orders,” he said. “With many large fleets already on the orderboard, perhaps the next few months will result in a bit more stable order placement, until OEMs generate further production rate improvements.”
ACT Research is a publisher of commercial vehicle truck, trailer, and bus industry data, market analysis, and forecasts for the North America and China markets. ACT’s analytical services are used by North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as banking and investment companies. ACT Research is a contributor to the Blue Chip Economic Indicators and a member of the Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Panel. ACT Research executives have received peer recognition, including election to the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics, appointment as Consulting Economist to the National Private Truck Council, and the Lawrence R. Klein Award for Blue Chip Economic Indicators’ Most Accurate Economic Forecast over a four-year period. ACT Research senior staff members have earned accolades including Chicago Federal Reserve Automotive Outlook Symposium Best Overall Forecast, Wall Street Journal Top Economic Outlook, and USA Today Top 10 Economic Forecasters.
Click here for more information about ACT’s U.S. Trailer Report.
