The new year started on a softer note, as preliminary reports show trailer net orders came in close to the December order pace, according to ACT Research.

Volume of 26,100 net orders was just shy of December’s 26,400 level. The first month of the year was also 17% below last January’s activity. Final January results will be available later this month. This preliminary market estimate should be within 3% of the final order tally.

“OEMs continue to carefully manage their order intake in an effort to control the length of their production commitments. January’s net order volume matching December’s intake is evidence of that effort. The industry backlog stretched through August, on average, at the start of the year. January reports point to a closing backlog that could extend into September, with dry van and reefer commitments likely reaching early into the fourth quarter,” Frank Maly, Director CV Transportation Analysis and Research of ACT Research, said.

“This production environment means that fleets will continue to struggle to acquire equipment as we move through the year. While we expect OEMs to ramp volume throughout 2022, the pace will be slower than both OEMs and fleets would prefer. Component, material, and staffing headwinds will continue to challenge any meaningful increase in production volume,” Maly said.