October preliminary net trailer orders of 16,700 units were down approximately 40 percent from September and off 70 percent from last year’s peak order month, according to ACT Research. Final October volume will be available later this month.

“It’s obvious that market uncertainties are preventing OEMs from commencing the industry’s normal order season. Challenges of supply-chain bottlenecks, labor shortages, and material and component prices are forcing OEMs to proceed very cautiously,” said Frank Maly, Director CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. “Initial reports indicate that October build rates were similar to September. So OEMs, while able to maintain production levels and manage backlog horizons, continue to be unable to ramp efforts to meet the extremely strong and growing fleet demand for additional trailers.”