Preliminary reports indicate that January net order volume of 29,100 trailers was up 94 percent from the same month last year. That was also down 33 percent from December 2020 bookings, according to ACT Research. Final January volume will be available later this month.

“The year-over-year gain, with OEMs booking almost twice the volume they reported last January, was in line with expectations, as the industry continues to see solid interest from fleets for equipment acquisition. The slower order pace versus December was also anticipated,” said Frank Maly, Director CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. “The order surge last September through December, which sets the stage for solid production volumes this year, is actually somewhat of a limiting factor for additional orders in the short-term. For dry vans and reefers, orderboards currently commit many OEMs into late 2021, and that means 2021 production slots are becoming a rare commodity. There is a reticence for OEMs to open 2022 slots at this time, and actually, some uncertainty on the fleet side to extend CAPEX intentions that far out as well.”

Maly also noted, “Increasing production rates continue to be a challenge for trailer OEMs, as headwinds from increasing staff and growing concerns regarding materials and components supplies are evident. Improvement in both those areas would generate additional production capacity as we progress through 2021.”

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.