ACT Research’s preliminary estimate for August 2018 net trailer orders is 38,200 units.

“Fleets continued to invest at a torrid pace in August, following a robust July. Industry net orders of 38,200 trailers were up more than 30 percent from July and over 140 percent better than this time last year. The summer has shown amazing strength, reflecting commercial fleets’ positive outlook in response to solid freight rates, volumes and capacity challenges. After seeing the strongest July volume in industry history, August followed suit, surpassing the previous record of August 1994 by more than 11,000 orders,” said Frank Maly, ACT’s Director of CV Transportation Analysis and Research.

Seasonally adjusted, August’s net orders were nearly 50,000, which converts to a 595,000 SAAR. Continuing the recent pattern, dry vans and reefers provided the majority of support for the total industry results; both categories were up more than 40 percent versus July. Dry vans were up almost 90 percent versus last August, while reefers were up over 240 percent versus last year.

Maly added, “Year-to-date net orders of more than 238,000 trailers are greater than 40 percent versus last year. Eight of the ten trailer categories are in the black year-over-year, with seven of those posting double-digit or better gains. Year-to-date performance is led by reefers, with net orders up 110 percent versus last year.”

Final August volume will be available later this month. Act Research’s methodology allows it to generate a preliminary estimate of the market that should be within +/- 3 percent of the final order tally.