In the latest release of State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers, ACT said that dry van orders, a segment hit hard in 2009, had a very strong June, especially considering June is normally a seasonally slow month for trailer orders. Year-to-date, dry van net orders are up 164%. Reefer van net orders, which held up fairly well during the recession according to ACT, are up 5% year-to-date.

"Truckload carrier profitability is the key to improved orders of commercial vehicles," said John Burton, vice-president with ACT Research. "Initial reports from publicly traded truckload carriers are confirming the healthy rebound we have been sensing in the trucking sector. With capital expenditures muted the past two years, carriers are beginning to show some profits and are reinvesting in their fleets."