COLUMBUS, IN – Used class 8 unit sales and new trailer orders both sank in November month-over-month, reported ACT Research.

The drop in used class 8 unit sales was 16 percent, but the good news, said Steve Tam, vice president, Commercial Vehicle Sector with ACT, was that prices in November “saw a sharp increase over October and year-over-year. “Prices were also able to hang onto positive territory year-to-date.”

Prices are likely to stay on the positive side for 2013, Tam said, but don’t expect any growth.

New trailer orders slid back slightly month over month in November with 22,306 net orders on the books, ACT said, adding that the comparison was against a “very strong October.”

Trailer production dropped 15 percent month-over-month. “We believe November’s build rate is understated because more holiday days were taken than we projected,” said Frank Maly, director, CV Transportation with ACT Research. “However, quotation interest remains solid. Fleets appear to be positioning themselves to move when the time is right.”