Total trailer production surpassed 27,000 June, capitalizing on one of the longer work schedules of the year. “Eight of ten trailer categories had higher production month over month,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. He continued, “Flatbeds posted the best sequential gain.”

A jump in build rates, combined with a seasonally expected easing in backlogs, resulted in June closing with a 4.6-month build-to-backlog ratio for the total industry. “Dry vans have the longest commitment at just over five months, pushing their orderboard horizon to early December,” said Maly. “We would expect total industry BL/BU to continue to ease through September, before accelerating in response to the upcoming fall order season,” he concluded.