FTR’s latest numbers show a strong December for trailer orders, with U.S. order rising 10% compared to November to 23,434 units, 16% above the monthly average for 2023. Order activity in December 2023 was 59% below December 2022. The number of trailers ordered over the last 12 months decreased to just above 243,000 units, FTR said.

According to FTR, trailer production slowed by 15% month over month in December to 20,153 units. Production was similarly down 15% year over year. The build number was the lowest since the beginning of 2021, but a drop in production after November is normal. Average monthly build is still healthy at more than 26,600 units.

“With orders coming in above production levels, backlogs in December rose somewhat, increasing by more than 3,000 units to more than 143,300 units in total,” said Eric Starks, FTR’s chairman of the board. “The fall in production and increase in backlogs resulted in an increase for the backlog-to-build ratio to 7.1 months. The ratio is slightly elevated due to the lower production levels in December and is above the historical average before 2020. A jump in the ratio is normal around the holidays, and the overall picture is still of an industry that is continuing its move towards a pre-pandemic level of stability.”