Thanks to the longest trailer OEM work schedule of the year, trailer OEMs in August saw build rates increase 14 percent over July and 9 percent year-over-year, ACT Research reported Friday.
ACT says August ties March as the year’s busiest working month, and with three additional work days over July, the sequential increase was expected in August.
“The longer schedule gave OEMs a bit of operational breathing room,” says Frank Maly, director, CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. “Daily production of 1,189 units per day, the third highest of the year, was off 7 units per day from July.”
Overall, ACT says the total U.S. trailer backlog was off 10 percent month-over-month and 11 percent lower year-over-year in August.
“Backlog slipped below 100k for the first time since last October. While most vocational/specialty trailers backlogs are up versus last year, both dry vans and reefers are in the red, off 11 percent and 39 percent, respectively,” Maly says.
