ACT Research Co. reported a 12% rise in trailer net orders—23,190 total units—from March to February.

“While large fleets made order commitments in the last four months of 2014, small and medium fleets, along with dealers, finally joined the party late in the order season,” said Frank Maly, director–commercial vehicle transportation analysis and research at ACT. “Emphasis now shifts to production as OEMs move to deliver on those record-setting order commitments.”

Maly added that there are several positives for the trailer industry, including impending resolution of the West Coast ports labor issues, good freight volume and robust investment plans by fleets. “Our view that 2015 will be the best trailer market since the late 1990s remains unchanged,” he added.

For more information on ACT, visit www.actresearch.net.