FTR reported Monday its preliminary November U.S. net trailer orders at 42,600 units, 34 percent above October and up 19 percent year-over-year.
âNovember trailer orders are wonderful news for the industry and for the general economy. Fleets continue to anticipate the need for more trailers in 2018. Freight growth has been tremendous in Q4, and we forecast it to remain at least good through the first half of 2018,â says Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles.
FTR says the reported order volume for November will boost OEM backlogs, which had looked to be weakening at the end of October. Based on the high November orders, FTR adds that production in 2018 should start at a healthy clip. Annualized trailer order number are now 295,000 for the past 12 months.
âWe can expect more use of drop-and-hook logistics in dry vans, refrigerated vans and flatbeds as trailer truck productivity is reduced and the driver shortage intensifies,â says Ake.
