According to ACT Research, November net U.S. trailer orders fell nearly 28% from October, reaching 39,645 units. However, the decrease followed a two-month order surge and still indicated a solid month.

Net orders were up 100% year over year and up more than 30% year to date compared with the first 11 months of 2019. Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 41,000 units were down 28% versus October, but 94% better year over year, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report, which provides a monthly review of current U.S. trailer market statistics, trailer OEM build plans and market indicators.

“While lower sequentially, November net orders really just took a bit of a breather from the September/October order surge, just missing the all-time top 10 list,” Frank Maly, director of CV transportation analysis and research at ACT Research, said. “It is quite possible that the previous two-month surge actually could have generated some minor November headwinds, and not surprisingly, dry vans and reefers are creating the majority of the volume uptick.

“At current production levels, the first available production slots for those two categories, on average, are in Q4/21, but, of course, we’re talking averages, so while some OEMs may be fully committed for 2021 until higher production rates can be generated, some OEMs have remaining 2021 slots. This has led us to a surprising industry comment in recent discussion. Fleets were wondering when the 2022 orderboards might open.”