June net U.S. trailer orders of 13,441 units were a significant improvement (333 percent) from May’s very low comparison, arriving dramatically above June 2019’s level, up 112 percent. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 16,000 units were up 117 percent versus May and 41 percent better year-over-year, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report.

“It is important to remember that those comparisons are to exceedingly low orders during the first part of this quarter, when widespread COVID lockdowns were in place,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. “That said, the improved sequential comparisons do indicate some fleets, after assessing current market conditions, are beginning to cautiously commit to capital expenditures.”

Maly continued, “Discussions indicated that large fleet orders helped drive June results, meaning improvement is generally not spread evenly across all OEMs, and we expect that choppiness to continue as we move through the summer.”

He commented, “OEMs continue to seek order/build equilibrium, and while some fleets are willing to make investment commitments, most continue to remain on the sidelines, despite some negotiations occurring to help generate order volume.”

ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current US trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders, and factory shipments.