Trailer net orders rose 12% month over month, but contracted 7% year over year, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co. (ACT).

“New orders continued to meander in April, the result of fleet caution about current freight conditions and the extent of the current backlog,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT. “While both categories have seen seasonal easing, trailer orders continue to significantly outpace power orders; the trailer/tractor net order ratio has been at, or above, the normally expected range for 9 straight months.” He added that while there is certainly concern over softness in freight volumes, as well as in contract and spot rates, fleet investment plans continue to be relatively stable; current orderboards indicate that orders placed today for dry vans or reefers will likely come with 2017 calendar year delivery dates.

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.