“Trailer orders continued to set records in November. Led by dry vans, OEMs saw the highest November order volume in history. Dry van volume has been a consistent influence in the market; September, October and November ranking as the first, second and third highest dry van order months ever recorded. That resulted in the last three months taking three of the top five volume spots for total industry orders in history,” says Frank Maly, ACT director of commercial vehicle transportation analysis and research.
“The order strength in both tractors and trailers indicate fleets continue to plan ambitious investment levels in the upcoming year, as they continue to join the ever-extending order queue,” Maly says.
The record-setting order flow has had a major impact on trailer industry backlogs.
“We show the industry’s total orderboard closed November at nearly 239,000 trailers. That’s the highest level on record, breaking the previous mark set in December 1994,” Maly says.
At current production rates, on average, industry backlog stretches well into the third quarter of next year. As is the norm, dry vans and reefers are both out longer, actually extending into the fourth quarter of 2019, while vocational trailer categories have shorter, but still very robust horizons, according to ACT.
Final volume will be available later this month. ACT’s methodology allows it to generate a preliminary estimate of the market that should be within +/- 3 percent of the final order tally.
