ACT Research reported that there were 43,806 net U.S. trailer orders in December, which was an 11% increase from the previous month and a 150% increase compared with December 2019. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 45,800 units were up 11% versus November and 148% better than the previous December. Full year 2020 net orders were up 41% from those recorded for full year 2019.

“Large fleets continue to contribute to the order board, while dealer stocking orders also aided volume in December,” Frank Maly, director of CV transportation analysis and research at ACT Research, said. “Strength continued in dry vans, but reefers eased from a very robust November. Sequential improvement occurred in many vocational categories, a pleasant change, although vocational segment demand remains well under last year’s levels.

“The industry is now set for a very robust 2021 for dry vans, reefers and flats. The 2020 year-end backlog is the third best in industry history and 50% better than the average year-end order board of 2010-2019. The challenge for OEMs will be to increase build rates to address this solid order board, creating additional production slots as we move through the year.”