May net U.S. trailer orders of 3,107 units were a significant improvement from April, but net orders remain below May 2019’s level, down 71 percent. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 7,400 units were up 29 percent versus April, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report.

“Although up from April’s record low, May’s net orders will still rank as the second weakest in industry history,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. “There is little incentive for fleets to invest in new equipment right now.”

“While there has been a general re-opening of the U.S. economy and some post-quarantine consumer-generated surges have been reported, caution continues to be the watchword,” Maly continued. “Significant apprehension is being expressed about small-to-medium fleets, and the concern is that the PPP lifelines many may have grasped will runout before a post-lockdown economy generates freight at sufficient volumes and profitable rates, which will have serious implications for both trailer OEMs and dealers.”

ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current U.S. trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders, and factory shipments.