According to the latest data from ACT Research in its State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report, net orders for trailers improved in August, rising to 15,370 units. Applying August’s seasonal factor brought the order total to 18,200 units.
Commented Frank Maly, Director-CV Transportation with ACT Research: “Looked at through a seasonal lens, August’s volume was the best since April. While improved, annualising August’s seasonally adjusted order volume generated a lacklustre 219,000 annualised rate of order intake. Orders on a seasonal basis below the build trend is an indication of fleets’ unwillingness to expand investment when the outlook is particularly opaque. Orders typically occur below the rate of build in Q3. Combined with slower economic activity and rising uncertainty, orders are expected to remain soft into Q4.”
ACT has separately reported that recent pricing gains suggest the used truck market is still robust. In August, pricing was up for all three time period comparisons, month-on-month, year-on-year, and January-August 2012 versus the first eight months of 2011. Volumes also increased month-on-month, but, according to ACT, remained well below pace for other time period comparisons. The update on the used market was reported in the latest release of the company’s State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks.
Steve Tam, Vice President-Commercial Vehicle Sector with ACT, commented: “One positive note from August activity is that earlier concerns about excess inventory seem to have been relatively isolated and are waning.”
The used truck market report from ACT provides data on the average used price for the top-selling Class 8 model for each of the major truck OEMs – Freightliner (Daimler); Kenworth and Peterbilt (Paccar); International (Navistar); and Volvo and Mack (Volvo).
