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FTR: May trailer orders drop to 13,300 units; worst month since 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — U.S. trailer net orders for May dropped 16 percent from April and 15 percent from last year, to a total of 13,300 units, transportation analyst firm FTR reported June 1, making May the weakest order month since August, 2010. Orders have totaled 286,000 units for the last 12 months and backlogs are down 9 percent from last year.
Dry van orders dipped 20 percent from the previous month, while refrigerated orders held steady. Flatbed, tanker, and dump trailer orders were comparable to April's totals, and production increased 3 percent.
"The trailer market is operating normally at this point in the yearly cycle and should continue on this path for the next several months," said Don Ake, FTR vice president of Commercial Vehicles. "There is a concern because inventories have increased for five straight months and are getting somewhat elevated. We are probably at or approaching the top of this production upcycle.
"Dry van and reefer production should remain steady due to the high backlogs, but the market is starting to show some tiredness after a very impressive run. The flatbed and tanker segments are displaying some stability, so hopefully they have stopped their decline."
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