Trailer order volumes eased month over month in April, but large fleet commitments were still providing support, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT). Cancellations posted single-digit rates and the orderboard was the best in nearly eight years.

“The month over month slide in orders was in line with seasonal expectations,” said Frank Maly, Director – CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT. “New order volume was 29,730 trailers, down 8% from March; after cancellations, net volume of 29,370 was down 2%. The six months of the 2013/14 order season generated 165,000 net trailer orders, up 22% year over year,” he added.

ACT is the worldwide leading publisher of new and used commercial vehicle (CV) industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the U.S. tractor-trailer market and the China CV market. ACT’s CV services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as the banking and investment community in North America, Europe and China.