"Despite trailer net orders in December falling 31 percent month over month and 38 percent year over year, the solid order season continues for this segment of the commercial vehicle industry," said Frank Maly, director of CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT. "Two factors impacted December's orders: the continued front-loading of the order season, along with market headwinds from freight rates and volumes that had already been reflected in Class 8 order levels." He said, "Softness in dry vans and reefers were responsible for the poor order comparisons, as large fleets took an early orderboard position, so December was not that surprising."

Maly added, “We start 2016 with the best orderboard in more than 20 years. While the remaining months of the 2015-16 order season may be somewhat lackluster on a year-over-year basis, there is still enough momentum for 2016 to be a solid year for industry shipments, although volume is projected to trail the 2015 record.”

Source: ACT Research