According to ACT Research Co., the normally slow month of May instead saw a 27% year-over-year increase in trailer orders. This was down 2% compared to April in raw numbers, but seasonally adjusted actually represented a 23% month-over-month increase, ACT reported.

“With assistance from dry vans, the industry posted the eighteenth straight month with y/y net order improvement, and fleets must now patiently await delivery of the trailers that fill the vast majority of this year’s production slots,” said Frank Maly, director of CV transportation analysis and research at ACT Research.

“May production was a bit weaker than we projected, with continued reports of component issues generating near-term challenges, and tariffs and trade wars listed as potentials for future difficulties,” Maly continued. “May build of 27,900 trailers was up 3% month-over-month, but off 5% when seasonal adjustments were applied. This could be the first indication that some of the industry’s usual build season production increases might be a bit more elusive this year, despite the robust orderboard.”