COLUMBUS, Ind. — Keeping in line with seasonal fluctuations, July posted weak order totals for the US trailer industry at 14,500 new orders. Orders were down 5.9% month-over-month, according to the latest figures in ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.

“The net order picture was a bit stronger than new orders, but still down 2% month-over-month,” said Frank Maly, director of commercial vehicle transportation with ACT. “Additionally, the decline in orders outpaced the slide in production, resulting in the lowest level of backlogs since last December. July shipments were up 14.8% year over year, although they were down 12.6% from last month.”

Maly further noted that confidence and availability of funds are at the centre of the pullback by credit buyers, impacting ongoing trailer order demand.