ACT reports strong trailer growth in February

Class 8 vehicle commercial trailer net orders increased more than 25 percent—to 21,990—in February over January, according to data from ACT Research Co., a provider of data and analysis for trucks and other commercial vehicles.

In its most recent “State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers” report, ACT said all nine of the trailer categories it tracks posted annual gains for net orders and shipments, with Dry Van net orders up more than 90 percent and shipments up nearly 225 percent.

“The ramp-up in orders that we’ve been tracking has continued into 2011. Year-to-date, total net orders are up over 87 percent compared to 2010”, said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst with ACT Research, in a statement. “Shipments are up an even stronger 116 percent when compared to the first two months of 2010. Strong orders and rising backlogs set the stage for solid industry performance during 2011.”

In a recent interview with LM, Vieth said that “all the stars are aligning” when it comes to Class 8 demand and the current environment.

As 2010 progressed, Vieth said there was a continued shrinkage of Class 8 fleets, with fewer Class 8 trucks on the road at the end of 2010 than there were at the beginning of 2010.

“We had growing freight volume throughout 2010, especially in the first half of the year,” said Vieth. “With freight growing and the tractor supply falling, trucker profitability rose. And used truck prices went up throughout the year. In December 2009, the average used truck price was roughly $35,000-to-$36,000, and at the end of 2010 that price was more than $43,000.”

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