According to the IBISWorld report on the Truck Trailer Manufacturing industry, the truck trailer manufacturing industry’s revenue is expected to grow during the five years to 2017 as firms will have to adapt to new technologies that make truck trailers lighter and more aerodynamic, supporting the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks.
 
According to industry analyst Antonio Danova, “in general, the performance of this industry predicates on activity from the trucking and freight services industries.” When the recession struck, demand for freight services fell dramatically. Data from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) shows that truck freight tonnage (an ATA index that measures the gross weight of freight transported annually) fell 8.3% during 2009, its largest fall since 1982. As a result, trucking companies could not afford to purchase new truck trailers in the midst of such a slump.

Nevertheless, this factor turned around in 2010 during the economic recovery, as trucking demand picked up due to higher consumer spending, more business activity and lower unemployment. This trend, in turn, created new demand for truck trailer purchases from firms that needed to add fleet volume or update existing fleets from purchases deferred during the downturn. Danova says, “heavy demand led to rapid production and a remarkable turnaround for the industry.”

As freight trucking activity continues improving into 2012, IBISWorld expects industry revenue to rise 9.2% during the year.

To download the entire report (purchase required), click here.