FTR reports final net trailer orders continued to climb in July, reaching 19,300 units, the highest level for the year. ACT Research reports July net U.S. trailer orders of 18,851 units.

July order activity was up 33% from June and +84% y/y, FTR says. Trailer orders now total 173,000 for the past twelve months.

Dry van orders sustained their momentum after diving perspicuously during the pandemic. FTR reports refrigerated van orders were solid for the second straight month, however, flatbed orders remained soft, as the manufacturing sector struggles to regain its footing. Backlogs should begin to stabilize, providing a base for higher 2021 production.

“July’s order volume is significant, as it allows most OEMs to maintain production rates for the next few months,” said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles. “Fleets are displaying renewed confidence in the freight markets and have increased their ordering volumes accordingly. OEM’s also feel much better about business conditions than they did in Q2. While sales are not vibrant, they are still much better than were expected only a couple of months ago. The industry is making a solid comeback considering the circumstances.”

“The best news about July is that some of the orders came from dealers. OEMs were concerned that their dealers were overstocked in May and that would limit future production,” Ake continued. “However, dealer sales were stronger than expected in June and July, prompting dealers to place some restocking orders. This indicates some medium and small fleets are finding plenty of freight to haul. The improved business conditions also indicate larger fleets are beginning to replace older trailers, after pausing during the pandemic.”

“The industry continues to climb from the COVID-generated historic low order volume posted in April,” said Frank Maly, director of CV transportation analysis and research at ACT Research. “At this time last year, however, fleets were in a freight volume and rate-driven investment retrenchment that continued through last September/October.”