Trailer Sales Down Almost 20% in 1999

Shipments of trailers and chassis totaled 275,366 units in 1999, down 19.9% from 1999, according to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau and the TruckTrailer Manufacturer's Assn.

Sales by type:
* vans, 216,638, down 23.7%;
* platforms, 21,896, up 1.5%;
* dump, 9,281, down 7.4%;
* tanks, 6,111, up 0.8%;
* lowbed heavy haulers, 13,418, up 4.5%;
* bulk commodity, 1,962; up 1.2%;
* containers & container chassis, 19,598, down 5.8%.