ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for May 2018 net trailer orders is 23,300 units.

“Fleet investment continues at a torrid pace. Net trailer orders were up year-over-year for the 18th straight month in May. While normal seasonal patterns call for a month-over-month decline in the high teens, May net order volume was just 2 percent below April,” said Frank Maly, ACT’s Director of CV Transportation Analysis and Research. “The major factors that have been driving the market, solid freight rates and tight capacity, with the added aid of beneficial tax changes, continue to provide the fuel for this ongoing order flow.”

Year-to-date, more than 151,000 net orders have been booked, up more than 26% versus last year.

“At current build rates, it appears that dry van and reefer backlogs, on average, have crossed into early 2019,” Maly noted. “Their influence pushes the industry average backlog-to-build well into December. Most vocational trailer categories appear to have backlogs that stretch into early fall.”

Final May volume will be available later this month.