TRAILER MAKERS NEWS * USA - Trailer Orders Fell 30 Percent in April

Columbus, Ind.,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by William B. Cassidy -May 27, 2011: -- Decline represents ‘anticipated lull’ after long buildup of orders, ACT Research says...  Net orders for commercial truck trailers dropped 30 percent in April from March after climbing for 18 straight months, according to ACT Research...  The trailer manufacturing industry backlog topped 100,000 units, and is 141 percent higher than a year ago...  Net orders for heavy trucks surged 31 percent in April from March, an ordering pace that is creating a bulging backlog that will strain truck production lines...  Trailer makers usually have a strong first quarter followed by a mid-year lull, said Frank Maly, director of commercial vehicle transportation analysis and research...

Trailer market * USA - ... Remains red hot

Columbus,IND,USA -Truck News (CAN) -Apr 29, 2011: -- The trailer market shows no signs of cooling off, with net orders surging 21% from February levels in March, according to the most recent State of the Industry: US Trailers report published by ACT Research...  Shipments were up 33% in March, with shipments for the first quarter up 109% compared to Q1 2010...  All trailer segments tracked by ACT were up over last year, but the dry van segment continues to lead the charge, with shipments up 198% year-to-date...

TRAILER MAKERS * USA - Talbert to show new custom trailers at Mid-America

(Video from YouTube, by TalbertMfg - 5 Oct 2010: Talbert Manufacturing, Inc. designs and manufactures a wide variety of heavy haul trailers and specialized transportation equipment)

NW Indiana,USA -Fleet Owner -18 March 2011: -- Specialty trailer builder Talbert Manufacturing has designed two new trailer models, the 55-ton RA Beam Deck and the 35-ton HRG Double Drop trailer. Both will be on display at the Mid-America Trucking Show, to be held in Louisville at the end of this month... The Beam Deck trailer features a non-ground bearing gooseneck customized with a 114-in. swing clearance, allowing more weight on the steer axle. It also includes a 26-ft. beam deck, a four-axle heavy-duty suspension offering 30,000 lbs. capacity, and a four-hydraulic cylinder design for improved lifting capacity... Talbert’s 35-ton HRG Double Drop Trailer was designed to haul agricultural machinery. An aluminum pull-out system (2 ft. on each side) accommodates wider equipment at lower heights. A hydraulic removable gooseneck offers five different ride heights with an extra full-width deck... There are four hydraulic cylinders for improved lifting capacity. The trailer is built with heavy-duty T1 steel and is equipped with strobe lights, battery backup, aluminum wheels and connections for a flip axle...

* Nebraska - Berkshire Hathaway buying Marmon Highway Technologies

Omaha,NE,USA -Truckinginfo -15 March 2011: -- Berkshire Hathaway announced it's buying Marmon Holdings, whose Marmon Highway Technologies makes trailers, fifth wheels, brakes and more for the heavy-duty trucking industry... Berkshire Hathaway too it's buying Lubrizol, which among other things makes additives for fuel and oil, for about $9.7 billion -- $135 per share in an all-cash transaction... It's the biggest deal for billionaire Warren Buffett's company since it bought Burlington Northern Santa Fe for more than $26 billion in 2009... (Photo from trucksystem: A Fontaine trailer by Marmon Highway Technologies)

TRAILER MAKERS * Belgium - All market figures 'Trailer' in 2010

Registrations of semi-trailers fell 3.64% in 2010 compared to 2009

Brussels,Belgium -Truck Business, by Claude Yvens -7 Jan 2011: ... The market is therefore remained at a very low level after its fall from 52.2% last year. An upswing in registrations, however, has shown from the end of summer, but has not yet allowed to return to a market growth year over year... They are always two Belgian brands that dominate the ranking, defeating Van Hool this time lag had known it is true that 2009 unique (in terms of market share that is). Van Hool offered even a touch over 15% market share. Behind the two leaders, there is the return of two of the three "great Germans', as Schmitz Cargobull and Krone back to pretty much market share they owned before the crisis began... The loser is then Renders, which not only n'immatricule more than two-thirds of its volume last year, but also loses more than 2.5 points of market share and saw the gap grow with the Top 4. At the same time, Turbo's Hoet progresses, and we note especially the large increase in registrations from the German System Trailers, who moved into the Top 10 in just two years...

* UK - Yodel orders 100 new Cheetah Fastback trailers

Broadheath,Altrincham,Cheshire,UK -Transport Engineer, by Brian Tinham -5 Jan 2011: -- Cartwright has commenced delivery of the first of 100 trailers for parcels brand Yodel, created following Home Delivery Network's purchase of DHL Express's domestic arm... The trailers are all Cartwright's latest generation Cheetah Fastback, with updated side skirts and aerodynamic rear roof profile – pulled by DAF CF tractor units... Brian Wheadon, Yodel's support services director, says he was impressed by the appearance and environmental credentials of these trailers...