August net trailer orders, at 7,700 units, were nearly 40% lower y/y, but 500 units above July’s intake. This brings ytd August net order activity to 89.4k units, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.

“Trailer cancellations moved higher again in August. The cancellation rate increased to 3.6% of the backlog, from July’s 3.0% rate,” said Jennifer McNealy, Director–CV Market Research & Publications at ACT Research. “Build significantly outpaced orders again in August, by 11k units. As a result, backlogs shrank nearly 14% sequentially.”

McNealy concluded, “They say no news is good news, but in the case of the current US trailer environment, that’s hardly the case. While no news means conditions aren’t deteriorating, it also means no real improvement presently, despite hopes for the contrary amid otherwise generally positive economic news.”