BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The market made a sizeable shift in the month of July.
According to reports from FTR, U.S. trailer net orders increased by 26% month-over-month to 5,961 units in July but were down 38% year-over-year.
Orders came in well below seasonal expectations and were 64% below the monthly average order level for the last 12 months. Despite the m/m gain, July 2024’s net order total was the fourth lowest in the past four years. Cancellations as a percentage of total gross orders remained above 30% for the third consecutive month.
Although some trailer segments experienced m/m improvements in net orders, the challenging truck freight environment continues to suppress U.S. trailer demand for 2024. Total trailer build decreased by 10% month-to-monthe and 26% year-to-year in July, totaling an output of 18,203 units. That figure is 19% lower than the average July build level over the past five years.
With net orders coming in substantially below production levels, backlogs in July dropped, falling by 13,219 units to end at slightly above 100,000 units. The marginally larger m/m decrease in backlogs than in production resulted in the backlog-to-build ratio ticking down to 5.5 months. This ratio is at the second lowest level since July 2020 and is roughly four-tenths of a month below the historical average prior to 2020. The current ratio indicates some limited incentive for manufacturers to continue to slow production.
“FTR believes that some fleets may be prioritizing capital expenditures on new power units over investing in new trailer equipment, possibly due to reduced profitability or shifts in trade cycles,” said Dan Moyer, FTR’s senior analyst/commercial vehicles. “The upcoming opening of 2025 order books in a few months, along with a potential recovery in truck freight, could improve market conditions, although such an outcome is far from certain.
“A recent FTR survey revealed that dealer trailer inventories in Q2 of 2024 were lower compared to the previous year, but they remain well above ideal levels. Considering these factors, OEMs must exercise caution and precision in their production planning,” he said.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
