According to FTR’s data, final March net trailer orders came in at 20,500 units, down 20% month-over-month but up 50% versus a year ago. The drop-off from February for both dry and refrigerated vans is simply due to the start of a typical seasonal decline for trailer orders, and the strong year-over-year comparison reflecting a positive trailer order environment, FTR says. Softening backlogs are also consistent with normal market conditions; production for March was robust. Trailer orders have now totaled 246,000 units for the last twelve months.

“The trailer market had a great production month,” said Don Ake, FTR’s vice president of commercial vehicles. “The OEMs finally started to increase build rates due to the strong orders of the past four months. Builds jumped an impressive 9% on a per day level over February. Production was basically equal to last March, which is a great sign moving into the seasonally strong second quarter.”