FTR: U.S. Trailer orders tumble in December

United States truck trailer net orders totaled 25,500 units in December, a 35 percent decrease from November and 43 percent decline from the same period in 2014.    United States truck trailer net orders totaled 25,500 units in December, a 35 percent decrease from November and 43 percent decline from the same period in 2014, according to the latest figures from the freight transportation analyst FTR.
   For the full year in 2015, U.S. trailer orders reached 313,000 units.
   Dry van orders receded in December after three strong months of growth, while refrigerated van and flatbed orders fell “due to cancellations, as OEMs cleaned up their backlogs at the end of the year,” said FTR.
   December trailer production was down 3 percent from November, with both dry van and flatbed build rates slowing, while refrigerated van production grew 13 percent compared to the previous month.
   The liquid tank market remained steady, however, and dry tank production improved, while the dump trailer market continued its strong growth, FTR Vice President of Commercial Vehicles Don Ake said.
   “The order numbers are down month-over-month and year-over-year, but that is only because they are compared to two of the strongest order months in history,” said Ake. “We enter 2016 with the largest backlog ever, so we can expect another strong trailer year.
   “The market continues to be driven by robust demand for dry and refrigerated vans,” he added. “Consumer spending has been steady, and there is still some pent-up demand for vans. Production is expected to ease back moderately in the second half of 2016. Most of the vocational markets are struggling a bit, except for dump trailers, which show no sign of slowing anytime soon.”