Despite the encouraging looks of trailer order increases, analysts say overall production is still down. October indicated an 80 percent jump in commercial trailer orders from September and a 124 percent increase from October last year. According to ATR Research Co., 70,000 semi trailers are expected to be built in 2009, increasing only to a projected 89,000 in 2010. The industry continues to be plagued by low freight and excess capacity.

A sharp increase in net trailer orders for October is tempered by a low backlog level that will keep production rates low for the immediate future, according to the latest trailer activity report issued by ACT Research Co. Net commercial trailer orders jumped 80% for the month over September’s numbers–and saw a 124% increase from October 2008.

Six of nine trailer types showed gains, led by a 155% increase in dry van net orders. Even with the increases, though, ACT reports that the backlog for orders is at 3.9 months, below levels that would support increasing production rates.

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