BLOOMINGTON, IN- March trailer orders dropped 25 percent year-over-year to 22,000 units, but manufacturers are working with such a huge backlog that they’re still hard at working building trailers, according to research firm FTR.

 “Orders remain subdued, but when you consider how many orders have been placed in the last 12 months and that backlogs are near record levels, this market has tremendous strength,” said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles.

FTR reported that dry van orders recovered from a dip in February with a 37-percent increase, with flatbed orders flattening and reefer orders falling to their lowest level since June 2014. But OEMs are building all trailer types at great rates so they can fulfill the large backlog of orders from last year.

Liquid, dry tanks and dump trailers saw good order rates in March and positive build rates as well, FTR claims.

OEMs are booking orders late into the third and fourth quarters of 2015 with some already booking now for 2016. However, it is the increase in build that is the most important number for Ake.

“The OEMs were very productive coming out of the winter months – refrigerated van, dump and flatbed builds were significant,” Ake said. “There is enough backlog to continue this momentum for several months.”