Trailer orders drop ‘expectedly’ in February

FTR said the 32 percent year-over-year drop was expected after record levels of ordering in Q4 2014 as OEMs work through a backlog.    U.S. trailer net orders in February fell 32 percent year-over-year, to 20,400 units, according to a statement from freight transportation analyst FTR. 
   That also represents a 26 percent drop from January figures.
   “The trailer market continues to moderate after record setting orders in (the fourth quarter of) 2014,” FTR said. “Backlogs fell for the first time in six months. In February, orders for dry vans fell to their lowest level since July 2014 but orders for refrigerated vans and dry tanks remained strong.”
   “Orders fell significantly, but this was to be expected at some point,” said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles. “Many OEMs are booked solid through Q3 with large fleets having placed all their orders for 2015 requirements. With backlogs falling in February, it appears this is the peak in the current order cycle.”
   Ake said FTR had “no concerns about the large drop in orders this month. The year is nearly booked full so there are not many build slots left for new orders. The industry can live off the backlog as we see how the rest of the year plays out.”