Trailer production will continue at current depressed levels through the end of 2009 before beginning a slow recovery, Eric Starks, President of FTR Associates recently told members of the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association (TTMA) at their annual meeting.




"At the moment transport demand is so weak that in fact the trucking industry as a whole actually does not need any new trailers at all," he said. Nevertheless, he predicted that the special needs of individual trucking firms will result in a continuation of the current low level of orders.



A large over-supply of trailers will be a continuing drag on new trailer demand, resulting in very weak 2009 production of only 70,000 units for the industry as a whole. This will improve only modestly to 89,000 units in 2010, Starks said.

Details included in Mr. Starks' presentation are part of FTR's North American Truck and Trailer Outlook Report which is available to subscribers. Go to the company's website at www.ftrassociates.net or call Eric Starks at 888-988-1699, ext. 41.