ACT Research reported Wednesday net U.S. trailer orders of 16,997 units in July, down 33 percent from June but 103 percent above the same month last year.
FTR reported preliminary orders of 17,000 units earlier this week, citing OEM caution as a limiting factor to higher orders. ACT confirmed that reporting with its announcement.
“OEMS continue to negotiate with fleets, but with some 2023 orderboards opened in June, those efforts quickly moved to booked business, leaving a tougher month to which July orders were compared,” says Jennifer McNealy, director, CV market research and publications, ACT Research.
“Discussions in June indicated some OEMs had opened part of their 2023 build slots, and in July we learned that further opening isn’t expected soon, as manufacturers continue to wrestle with rolling supply-chain disruptions, as well as challenges on the labor front.”
But McNealy adds trailer demand remains strong, despite increased pricing, and cancellations are insignificant. “Fleets in queue need the equipment and plan to stay in queue until orders are converted to deliveries,” she says.
