Trailer shipments through October totaled 234,105 units, down 17.9% from the same period in 1998, according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Census and the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Assn.

Shipments by trailer type: vans, 185,365, down 21.1%; tanks, 5,150, same as last year; platform, 18,078, down 0.1%; bulk commodity, 1,603, down 0.7%; pole/logging, 989, down 35.7%; low bed heavy hauler, 11,251, up 4.5%; dump, 7,686, down 9.4%; auto transporter, 167, up 16.8%; all other trailers, 3,816, down 10.4%; containers and container chassis, 16,905, down 1.9%.