FTR Reports Final Trailer Orders in November at 41,400 Units

12.17.20 | FTR

FTR reports that final U.S. net trailer orders for November came in at a strong 41,400 units, as fleets continue to lock up build slots well into 2021. While November was down 26% m/m, that comparison was against a huge October and was up 107% y/y. The order total for September-November was the second-highest three-month period ever. Trailer orders for the last twelve months now equal 270,700 units.

Dry van orders backed off the recent record highs but remained substantial. Refrigerated van orders were lofty for the third straight month. Flatbed orders finally started to recover after an extended dry spell, hitting the highest volume since January 2019.

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

Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles, commented, "This is a repeat of 2018 when fleets placed huge orders in September-October to reserve build slots in 2019. Then, it was because the hot demand was outstripping OEM and supplier capacity. Now, it’s because the pandemic has disrupted the supply chain and some essential components are having trouble making it through the pipeline fast enough. We would expect these bottlenecks to be resolved over the next few months, resulting in some of the large orders of the last two months being canceled or pushed out next summer as happened in 2019.

"There are still significant risks due to the increase in positive COVID-19 tests. The industry powered right through the summer despite rising infections. There is strong positive momentum right now, but it remains to be seen if possible new health restrictions will slow down the growth of freight. This industry is known for wild demand swings and we’ve gone from record low orders to record high orders in just seven months."

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The full trailer data is available as part of FTR's North American Truck & Trailer Outlook service.

Click here to view a sample report >

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For more than 30 years, FTR has served as the industry leader in freight transportation forecasting for the shipping, trucking, rail, intermodal, equipment, and financial communities in North America. FTR’s experts, with over 250 years of combined experience in the transportation industry, provide quantitative analysis with historical and modal-specific insights. FTR’s reports, data, commentary, and insights help clients evaluate market risks, identify new opportunities, and make informed decisions.

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FTR Reports Final Trailer Orders in November at 41,400 Units

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