After a summer slump, trailer order activity posted solid improvement in September, according to data tracked by ACT Research Co. (ACT). The research firm said net orders were up almost 31% month-over-month and 22% year-over-year, with total trailer factory shipments increasing some 65% in September vs. the same month in 2010.
“Production is still outpacing new order intake, despite the improvement in orders in September,” said Frank Maly, ACT’s director-- CV transportation analysis and research.
“This is reducing the backlog,” he pointed out. “However, we cannot divorce ourselves from seasonality. Orders are always weak and backlogs always fall through the third quarter.
“ On a seasonally adjusted basis, total trailer backlogs have been virtually unchanged since May,” added Maly.