ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for November indicates trailer manufacturers booked 19,500 net orders to their orderboards last month, a 39 percent decline from October’s volume. Activity was 56 percent below November of 2018, while year-to-date net orders are just under half that of last year.

Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 21,000 trailers were off 43 percent month-over-month and 54 percent below last year. Final volume will be available later this week.

“The sequential decline in November broke a four-month streak of monthly gains. That ran counter to the industry’s normal order patterns, which point to November typically ranking as the best order month of the year,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. “The cautious stance toward 2020 cap-ex spending is evident in both the level and pattern of fleet trailer orders as we approach year-end.”

Additionally, Maly said, “One positive take-away from the November stats is a significant easing in cancellations compared to previous months. That’s an indication that, while lower, the commitments on the orderboard appear to be firming as we close the year.”

He added, “Discussions with trailer OEMs also indicate that, although they are encountering pricing pressure, quote activity remains solid, so any change in fleet confidence could quickly result in an order rebound.”