According to the latest preliminary numbers from both ACT Research Co. and FTR, trailer orders were down in June, in line with typical yearly trends. ACT found that while orders are still strong, June was the first time in 18 months that trailer orders have been down year-over-year. ACT has trailer orders numbers for June at 20,048, down 1.3% year-over-year and 13% month-over-month.

“Dry vans were the driving force in the last two months’ performances and solid volume kept that year-over-year improvement streak alive in May,” said Frank Maly, director of CV transportation analysis and research at ACT Research. “It was dry van weakness in June that was responsible for the total industry’s negative y/y posting, while the other nine trailer categories were all in the black year-over year.”

According to Maly, those ten trailer categories include: dry vans; reefers; flatbeds; heavy low-beds; medium low-beds; dumps; liquid tanks; bulk tanks; grain/commodity; and “all other.”

“Production surged sequentially in June. While build usually increases in an end-of-quarter month, there were also extenuating circumstances last month,” Maly added. “Reports of red-tagged units being moved to completion were heard and that shift from work-in-progress to completion artificially increases calculated build rates.”

FTR reported trailer orders at 18,600 units. Trailer orders have now totaled 335,000 units for the past twelve months.

“You can expect order rates to remain subdued for a couple of months,” said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles. “Fleets should begin placing substantial orders for 2019 beginning in September, a month earlier than normal, because production next year is expected to be hefty once again. The economy is healthy, freight growth is sturdy, and sales remain strong. The market is performing according to traditional trends, albeit at record-setting levels.”