ACT reports commercial trailer net orders and shipments are on the rise

Commercial trailer net orders and shipments in March saw significant gains compared to February, according to data from ACT Research Co., a provider of data and analysis for trucks and other commercial vehicles.

In its most recent edition of ACT’s “State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers,” the firm said that net orders for trailers in March were up 21 percent from February and shipments in March were up more than 33 percent.

ACT also reported that trailer shipments for the entire first quarter were up 109 percent on an annual basis. 

“Net orders have now grown for 18 consecutive months, as well as 19 of the past 20. Total trailer net orders are now 98% above the level at this time last year,” said Frank Maly, Director CV Transportation Analysis and Research with ACT Research, in a statement. “Shipments, up 109% year-to-date, are growing at an even stronger pace. Additionally, backlogs continue to grow. The stage is set for solid industry performance for the remainder of 2011 and throughout 2012.”

In a recent interview with LM, ACT President and Senior Analyst Kenny Vieth said that truckers continue to universally say that they are not adding capacity. But he pointed out that there is a difference between adding capacity and getting capital expenditures back to where it needs to be.

“Generally, truckers have been at below maintenance level capex for the past two or three years,” said Vieth. “Ultimately, it is payback time, as trucks need to be replaced. In addition to the domestic side of the story, the order activity is broad-based, with all of the OEMs participating in all of the North American geographies and not just the U.S. Canada and Mexico are strong right now, as are non-NAFTA markets that are ordering trucks like crazy. It is broad-based, and we are seeing the same thing in the trailer market, with U.S. trailer orders being very robust over the past few months.”

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