Although orders were slower in December, 2015 was the trailer industry’s best shipment year in history, just edging out the previous record set in 1999, according to ACT Research.

“Despite trailer net orders in December falling 31% month-over-month and 38% year-over-year, the solid order season continues for this segment of the commercial vehicle industry,” said Frank Maly, director of CV transportation analysis and research at ACT. “Two factors impacted December’s orders: the continued front-loading of the order season, along with market headwinds from freight rates and volumes that had already been reflected in Class 8 order levels.” He continued, “Softness in dry vans and refers were responsible for the poor order comparisons, as large fleets took an early orderboard position, so December was not that surprising.”

Maly added, “We start 2016 with the best orderboard in more than 20 years. While the remaining months of the 2015-16 order season may be somewhat lackluster on a year-over-year basis, there is still enough momentum for 2016 to be a solid year for industry shipments, although volume is projected to trail the 2015 record.”

ACT is a publisher of new and used commercial vehicle (CV) industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the U.S. tractor-trailer market and the China CV market.