Trailer orders jump in March

Commercial trailer orders jumped 165% in March over March 2009’s numbers, according to ACT Research Co. It is the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year growth and the fourth time the orders have exceeded 100% growth.

All nine trailer segments showed improvement in March, ACT said in its latest “State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers,” report. In particular, the report shows dry vans are recording strong growth this year with a year-to-date increase in net orders of 233%. Reefer vans are up 63% year-to-date.

The improving orders have pushed total trailer backlogs to their highest levels in 18 months.

“The trailer manufacturing industry seems to be recovering from the deep slump it has been in for the past two years,” said Steve Tam, vp-commercial vehicle sector with ACT Research. “The stretch of stronger months has come during the normal peak season for trailer orders, so the industry is being cautious about ramping up production too rapidly to ensure growth is sustainable.”