FTR: U.S. trailer orders soar in September

Preliminary net orders for U.S. trailers totaled 21,500 units in September 2017, up 47 percent from the previous month and 84 percent year-over-year, according to freight transportation analyst FTR.    U.S. net trailer orders totaled 21,500 units in September 2017, according to preliminary figures from freight transportation analyst FTR.
   The September order activity was up 47 percent compared with the previous month and 84 percent from the same 2016 period. Trailer orders for the past twelve months have totaled 275,000 units, much in line with 2017 production numbers, noted FTR.  
   “This is great news for the trailer market in 2018. When fleets begin ordering more trailers in September, it indicates the market should be robust the following year,” said FTR Vice President of Commercial Vehicles Don Ake. “We expect ordering activity to accelerate in October and stay elevated throughout Q4. Production rates should stay at higher levels, rolling right into 2018.
   “Freight expansion early next year will severely strain industry capacity, and fleets will need to add trailers to handle the added loads. Both the manufacturing and consumer sectors of the economy are healthy right now, and this should lead to increased demand for most trailer segments. Things look very positive for trailers right now,” said Ake.