COLUMBUS, IN — There were 28 percent more trailers ordered in January 2014 than the same time last year, according to ACT Research data. 

“Seven of the ten trailer categories had year over year growth in January,” said Frank Maly, director – CV transportation analysis and research at ACT.

“Particular strength came from reefer vans, which rose 80 percent from year-ago levels, tank trailers, which saw triple-digit gains from cancellation depleted results in early 2013, and heavy lowbeds which posted high double-digit gains year over year and month over month,” he said.

The industry is in the midst of its annual “order season” and January’s orders helped backlog open the year with a solid 8- percent month over month gain.

ACT publishes new and used commercial vehicle (CV) industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the U.S. tractor-trailer market and the China CV market.