FTR Reports Preliminary Trailer Orders Continued to Backtrack in June

FTR reports preliminary trailer orders fell back in June to 14,400 units. Orders were down 23% m/m but up 20% y/y. Trailer orders for the past twelve months have totaled 265,000 units.

The order number for June met expectations, as OEMs have filled most of the available build slots and are not yet booking orders for 2023. Orders should rise substantially in the fall when commitments for next year are firmed up.

Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles for FTR commented “The order numbers are consistent with traditional trends entering the summer months. However, usually the numbers drop because fleets have ordered all the trailers they need for the year. This time, the orders are falling because the OEMs have limited build slots available due to ongoing supply chain disruptions. The fleets need more trailers, and the OEMs want to increase production, but some component parts remain scarce. Orders should remain sluggish throughout the summer.

“The OEMs are holding onto an enormous amount of fleet commitments for 2023. Unstable commodity costs and other variables make quoting prices difficult right now. However, these commitments should begin turning into booked orders beginning in September, and there is the potential for record order volumes in the fourth quarter.”