FTR Reports Final Net Trailer Orders for December at 34,000 Units – a 35% Y/Y Increase

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FTR reports final December net trailer orders at 34,000 units, down 5% m/m but up 35% y/y.  Orders were robust for the second straight month and exceeded expectations.  December trailer orders were led by good dry van activity and very strong refrigerated van numbers.  Most vocational trailer segments showed a healthy increase as well.  Trailer orders totaled 219,000 units in 2016.  Backlogs rose significantly again and are now at the highest point since June.  Production fell due to the holidays but was much better than expected.

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Click here to view the latest release and an interactive graph of the Trailer Orders >

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Don Ake, FTR Vice President of Commercial Vehicles, commented, “December was another very solid month for trailer orders.  Dry vans are regaining some momentum after the summer slump and backlogs are in good shape starting the year.  Refrigerated vans had a great order month, with production actually increasing in December.  There was also good news in the vocational segments with order increases, which should lead to production increases fairly soon.”

“The trailer market is in decent shape entering 2017.  Dry vans look solid for the first half of the year.  Refrigerated vans are not slowing down much after two record years.  It appears that flatbeds and other work segments have bottomed out and will start to improve.  In addition, the positive direction of the trailer market is a good sign for continued economic growth this year.”



About FTR
For more than two decades, FTR has been the thought leader in freight transportation forecasting in North America. The company’s national award-winning forecasters collect and analyze all data likely to impact freight movement, issuing consistently reliable reports for trucking, rail, and intermodal transportation, as well as providing demand analysis for commercial vehicle and railcar. FTR’s forecasting and specially designed reports have resulted in advanced planning and cost-savings for companies throughout the transportation sector.