According to preliminary data from ACT Research, net U.S. trailer orders in May reached 18,300 units, which was down about 7% from April but up 11% compared with May 2021.

Final May results will be available later this month. This preliminary market estimate should be within 3% of the final order tally.

“Seasonal patterns call for a sequential decline in net orders in May, and preliminary reports indicate that volumes met those expectations. Just as dry vans were responsible for April’s dramatically lower bookings, they were the buttress for May’s year-over-year increase,” Jennifer McNealy, director of commercial vehicle market research and publications at ACT Research, said. “We continue to believe there is reluctance to push the orderboard horizon into next year, as OEMs continue to closely control order acceptance. That said, active negotiations, the calendar inching toward a 2023 opening and new capacity scheduled to come online in the near future could explain this month’s preliminary report. It’s also worth mentioning that last year’s May net orders represented the lowest monthly volume since the COVID-impacted months of 2020.”